HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


RELATING  TO 


SPENCER,  MASS. 


HENRY  M.  TOWER. 


^^G&m&tm&mr*-- 


,\  >v.% 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


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HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


RELATING    TO 


SPENCER,  MASS., 


BY 


HENRY  M.  TOWER. 


VOLUME 


I  90  I. 


SPENCER,    MASS., 
W.    J.    HEFFERKAX — SPENCER    LEADER    PRINT. 


"  I  shall  pass  through  this  world  but  once — therefore  if 
there  be  any  good  I  can  do,  let  me  do  it  now,  for  I  shall  never 
come  this  way  again. —  Quaker  Saving . 


S   "■■«:    - 


*»     %^X 


HEXKY  M.  TOWER. 
Born  in  Spencer,  July  23,  1^(7. 


PREFACE. 


Some  things  are  said  to  happen.  If  this  be  true,  it  can  be  so 
said  of  this  book.  It  is  one  of  those  incidents  in  life  that  come 
without  predetermination.  I  had  been  chosen  by  the  committee 
in  charge  to  write  the  Samuel  Bemis  historical  address  and  had 
gathered  more  material  of  value  than  could  well  be  utilized  in  a 
paper  of  an  hour's  length.  It  was  then  suggested  that  the  whole  be 
published  in  book  form  and  this  appearing  to  be  desirable,  the  idea 
took  definite  form,  being  extended,  however,  to  include  other  his- 
torical papers. 

Spencer,  Mass.,  Oct.,  1901. 


RECORDS  CONSULTED. 


Hatton's  Emigrants,  1600  to  1700. 

Early  Massachusetts  marriages. 

Bemis  Family  in  America. 

Newhall's  "Record  of  my  Ancestry." 

Histories  of  Spencer,  Brookfield,  Leicester,  Lancaster,  Charl- 
ton, Oxford,  Worcester,  Watertown,  Sudbury,  Marlboro,  Fram- 
ingham,  Ipswich,  Harvard,  Rutland  and  Shirley. 

Records  at  Essex  Institute,  Salem. 

Records  at  Genealogical  Rooms,  Boston. 

Records  at  State  House,  Boston. 

County  Records  at  Springfield,  Worcester,  Cambridge  and 
Salem. 

Town  Records  of  Spencer,  Leicester,  Brookfield,  Watertown, 
Ipswich  and  Topsfield,  besides  church  and  other  records,  from  all 
of  which  some  items  of  interest  have  been  gleaned. 


NATHANIEL  WOOD. 


Who  he  was  is  a  mystery  no  longer.  Since  the  publication  of 
the  first  edition  of  Draper's  history  sixty  years  ago  and  presuma- 
bly years  before  that,  many  wanted  to  know  more  than  that  work 
contains  concerning  the  mysterious  first  settler  in  Spencer,  the 
man  who  came,  no  one  knew  from  whence,  who  tarried  no  one 
knew  how  long,  who  disappeared  like  the  Arab  that  "folded  his 
tent  and  stole  silently  away,"  no  one  knew  whither.  He  was  our 
Melchisedek;  the  man  who  appeared  to  have  had  neither  beginning 
nor  ending  of  days  So  far  as  local  information  was  obtainable. 
James  Draper  occupied  a  pre-eminent  position  to  gather  the  facts, 
for  he  knew  men  whose  fathers  were  contemporaries  with  this,  the 
first  settler.  The  knowledge  he  obtained,  however,  was  meagre, 
too  meagre  indeed  to  be  the  satisfactory  sum  total  of  information 
desired.  And  so  it  has  remained  for  one  of  a  later  generation  to 
institute  a  persistent  search  among  the  records  of  the  past  in  order 
to  find  out  if  possible  who  this  man  was. 

Records  Found. 

The  search  has  proved  to  be  successful.  Many  records, 
though  widely  scattered,  have  been  found  which  reveal  the  iden- 
tity of  the  man,  and  these  are  herewith  largely  reproduced.  One 
very  interesting  point  brought  out  is  his  participation  in  the  Nar- 
ragansett  fort  fight,  one  of  the  most  noted  battles  in  Indian  war- 
fare, and  which  resulted  in  the  total  destruction  of  their  fort  and 
practically  the  annihilation  of  the  Narragansett  tribe.  And  now 
when  the  history  of  Spencer  shall  be  rewritten,  as  it  should  be  be- 
fore many  years,  Nathaniel  Wood  will  appear  therein  not  as  a 
stranger  but  a  man  whom  we  know  about  and  honor  as  the  very 
first  white  man  to  settle  in  Spencer  and  who  acted  well  his  part  in 
the  great  drama  of  the  establishment  in  America  of  a  nation  based 
on  the  eternal  principles  of  Justice. 


HISTORY  OF  NATHANIEL  WOOD. 


The  first  white  man  known  to  have  settled  in  that  part  ot 
Leicester  now  called  Spencer  was  Nathaniel  Wood  of  Ipswich  and 
Draper's  History  names  17  17  as  the  date.  It  is  possible  that  some 
white  man  or  men,  made  at  an  earlier  date  the  clearing  on  Bare 
Hill,  lot  64,  noted  by  the  first  pioneers  ot  record,  but  if  such  was 
the  case  there  is  no  clue  whence  they  came  or  whither  they  went. 
It  is  known,  however,  that  the  Indians  had  a  burial  ground  about 
a  half  mile  south  east  of  this  hill  and  this  would  indicate  their 
continued  presence  in  considerable  numbers  in  that  vicinity.  It  is 
also  known  that  they  had  an  annual  burning  over  of  their  upland 
hunting  grounds  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  down  the  brush  and 
to  facilitate  travel  when  in  search  of  game.  They  also  were  tillers 
of  the  soil  to  a  limited  extent,  and  these  facts  lead  up  to  the  con- 
clusion that  they  may  have  made  the  clearing  on  Bare  Hill,  but 
all  that  is  now  positively  known  in  regard  to  the  same  is  that  the 
hill  was  in  shape  for  cultivation  when  the  first  settlers  came,  while 
all  the  other  upland  in  town  was  covered  with  the  forest  primeval. 

His  Brookfield  Land. 

The  first  indication  we  have  that  Nathaniel  Wood  had  an 
interest  in  this  section  is  from  a  vote  taken  "at  a  meeting  of  the 
committee  for  Brookfield,  November  ye  22nd,  17  15"  when  it  was 
"  granted  at  ye  same  time  to  Nathaniel  Wood  forty  acres  of  upland 
and  twenty  of  meadow  and  in  case  he  finds  no  meadow  to  have 
upland  equivalent  as  others  have."  Later  records  disclose  the 
information  that  he  selected  the  forty  acres  of  upland  adjoining  the 
Leicester  line  with  the  Seven  Mile  river  as  its  southern  boundary 
and  that  from  this  stream  his  land  extended  north  165  rods,  wilh 
36  rods  as  the  average  width.  The  next  we  hear  of  Mr.  Wood  in 
the  order  of  time  is  his  purchase  of  100  acres  of  land  in  Leicester 
adjoining  the  Brookfield  grant  and  his  settlement  on  the  same. 
Presumably  this  was  in  the  summer  of  1717,  since  prior  to  that  time 
he  could  have  obtained  no  title  to  the  land,  as  will  appear  from  the 
following: 

On  June  6,  17 17,  the  proprietors  owning  the  undivided  land 
in  what  is  now  Spencer,  met  in  Boston  and  proceeded  to  draw  lots 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


of  the  northern  half  of  the  territory  according  to  a  plan,  a  tran- 
script of  which  can  be  found  in  Draper's  History.  The  two  lots 
29  and  36  adjoining  each  other,  containing  five  hundred  acres  and 
whose  western  boundary  was  the  Brookfield  town  line,  were  drawn 
by  Paul  Dudley,  Esq.,  who  thus  became  the  first  individual  white 
owner. 


PAUI«  DUDLEY,  ESQ.     Son  of  Joseph  Dudley,  Governor  of  the  Province  of 

Massachusetts  Bay  from  1 701  to  1716.     He  graduated   in    1690   from 

Harvard  College  at  the  head  of  his  class;  was  Attorney  General 

in    1702   and  later  Chief    Justice  of  the   Supreme   Court 

His  Leicester  Land. 

Nathaniel  Wood  purchased  the  Western  end  of  lot  36,  having 
the  Seven  Mile  river  as  its  southern  boundary.  His  line  on  the 
east  is  now  the  site  of  an  ancient  stone  wall,  built  probably  by- 
Samuel  Bemis,  as  all  the  stone  used  appear  to  have  been  taken 
from  his  land.  This  wall  was  laid  parallel  to  the  Brookfield  line 
of  1 7 14  and  was  designed  to  run  due  north  and  south.  It  is  on 
the  western  slope  of  Bemis  hill  east  of  the  present  residence  and 
brickyard  of  Cyril  Coron.     Brookfield,  being  dissatisfied  with  the 


NATHANIEL    WOOD. 


survey  ol  17 14,  her  selectmen  in  17 19  caused  another  line  to  be 
run  which  later  was  established  by  order  of  court.  This  new  line 
took  17  acres  off  the  Wood  farm,  supposed  to  have  been  in  Leices- 
ter and  added  it  to  his  Brookfield  land.  The  line  as  finally  es- 
tablished crosses  the  Brookfield  road  near  Wood's  brook  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill  east  of  the  Howland  farm  buildings.  From  here 
the  land  of  Mr.  Wood  extended  west  about  58  rods,  thus  including 
nearly  if  not  all  the  home  farm  now  occupied  by  Lewis  D.  How- 
land. 

His  Ancestry. 

Nathaniel  Wood  now  being  settled  in  Leicester,  it  may  be  well 
to  inquire  who  he  was.  His  father  was  Obadiah  Wood,  who  set- 
tled in  Ipswich  in  1649  and  probably  came  from  England.  The 
name  of  the  first  wife  of  Obadiah  was  Margaret.  She  died  July  5, 
1667.  His  second  wife  had  a  singular  name  as  will  be  noted  by 
the  following  inscription  on  her  headstone  at  Ipswich,  "Hazelel- 
pony  Wood,  widow  of  Obadiah  Wood  died  November  ye  27,  17 14. 
Aged  78  years.  Wright  blessed  are  ye  dead  who  die  in  ye  Lord." 
Obadiah  Wood  was  a  baker  by  trade  and  had  a  license  to  sell 
cakes  and  penny  beer.  He  made  his  will  Oct.  26,  169).  and  left 
an  estate  of  185  pounds,  of  which  amount  Nathaniel  was  willed 
twenty  shillings.  His  seal  was  a  coat  of  arms.  His  children, 
probably  all  by  his  first  wife,  were  Obadiah,  Nathaniel,  Josiah, 
Samuel,  James,  Joseph,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Susannah,  Margaret  and 
Ruth. 

His  Children. 

Nathaniel  was  probably  born  about  the  year  1657.  He  mar- 
ried Lucy  ,  who  was  admitted   to  the  Topsfield  church  and 

baptized  April  30,   1693.     Their  children  were: 

f  Nathaniel  Jr.,  born  May  7,  1693. 

Lucy  Wood  her  Nath'ljr.,  baptized  Sept. 3, 1693. 
Obadiah,  Nov.  1,  1696. 

Lucy, 

"     Margaret,  baptized  Oct.  26,  1701. 
Goodwife    "         "     Abigail,  baptized  Nov.    5, 
Hepzibath,  born  July   24, 
Lucy    '*  "       baptized  Sept. — , 

Mary,   baptized    July    18, 
his     Zeruah,  baptized  June   18, 


By 

whom 
presented 
for 
baptism. 


1704. 

1707. 

1707. 

1708. 
I,  Nathaniel  '  his  Zeruah,  baptized  June  18,  17 10. 
From  the  above  it  appears  probable  that  when  Nathaniel 
Wood  came  to  Leicester,  his  family  consisted  of  himself,  aged  60; 
his  wife;  Nathaniel  Jr.,  aged  24;  Ruth, .18;  ]Vlargar.et,  16;  Abigail, 
14;  Hepzibath,  10;  Mary,  9,  and  Zeruah,  7  years  of  age.  No 
record  has  been  obtained  of  his  son,  Obadiah,  other  than  that  of 
his  baptism,  and  it  is  presumed  he  died  in  childhood. 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Comes  Near  Losing  His  Brookfield  Land. 

In  1720  he  seems  to  have  been  on  the  point  of  losing  his 
Brookfield  property  because  he  had  failed  to  meet  the  conditions  of 
the  grant  which  is  stated  in  the  records  of  a  meeting  of  the  town 
committee:  "Sept.  ye  14th,  17 13"  when  "the  committee  then 
agreed  that  all  grants  of  land  hereafter  made  shall  be  upon  the  con- 
ditions following,  viz: 

1st.  That  they  shall  work  upon  ye  land  granted  within  six 
months  from  ye  grant  in  order  to  a  settlement 

2nd.  That  they  shall  come  and  live  upon  it  within  a  year 
from  the  grant. 

3d  That  they  shall  live  upon  it  three  years  commencing 
from  the  grant 

4th  That  in  case  the  grantees  fail  in  any  of  ye  particu- 
lars of  articles  aforesaid  then  the  grants  to  revert  to  ye  town  again  " 

Admitting  his  failure  to  comply  with  the  conditions,  Nathan- 
iel Wood  appeals  to  the  voters  of  Brookfield  in  open  town  meeting 
for  a  renewal  of  the  grant  which  meets  with  favor,  although  he  is 
deprived  of  his  opportunity  to  secure  meadow  land  as  the  record 
reveals. 

Brookfield,  Dec  ye  first,  1720  Whereas,  Nathaniel  Wood 
had  a  grant  made  bv  the  former  committee  bearing  date  November 
ye  22d,  1 7 15,  and  said  Wood  not  fulfilling  e  conditions  of  said  grant 
as  of  record  but  falling  short,  but  having  paid  some  money  towards 
ye  publick  charges  of  this  town,  we  do  at  a  legal  town  meeting  grant 
to  said  Nathaniel  Wood  fortv  acres  of  land;  he  ve  said  Wood  aquit- 
ing  his  former  grant  and  not  else  and  for  the  confirmation  whereof 
I  do  set  my  hand  this  first  day  of  December,  1720. 

In  presence  of  us,  witnesses:  /7?        /jS*  '    /*    WL.2w) 

Tiixy mirick,  VLcLfyLoJUcL    <woxxj 

Phiup  Goss. 
Attest,  JOSEPH  JENNINGS,  Moderator. 

To  this  agreement  Nathaniel  Wood  signed  his  name,  but  in 
all  subsequent  documents  thus  far  discovered  to  which  his  name  is 
affixed,  his  mark  appears,  thus  indicating  impaired  eyesight  or 
other  physical  infirmity. 

Moves  to  Brookfield. 

Since  the  terms  of  his  Brookfield  grant  demanded  that  the 
soil  be  occupied  within  one  year  from  the  date  of  confirmation,  it 
is  fair  to  assume  that  Nathaniel  Wood  moved  from  Leicester  in  the 
fall  of  1721,  and  became  with  the  exception  of  being  a  voter,  what 
all  along  he  practically  had  been,  a  citizen  of  Brookfield.  This 
conclusion  is  reached  because  although  living  in  Leicester,  he 
never  paid  any  taxes  to  that  town  but  did  at  some  time  during 
those  years  pay  taxes  to  Brookfield.     Again  he  likely  would  have 


NATHANIEL    WOOD.  II 

been  taxed  in  Leicester  if  the  improvements  made  on  his  Leices- 
ter farm  had  been  of  sufficient  value  to  have  taken  his  property 
out  of  its  probable  classification  as  wild  land,  and  hence  untaxa- 
ble. On  the  29th  of  Sept.  1721,  we  find  him  deeding  away  his 
Leicester  land  to  his  children  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
record : 

Sells  His  Land  in  Leicester. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Nathaniel  Wood  of 
Leicester  in  the  County  of  Middlesex  in  the  Province  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  in  New  England,  do  for  and  in  Consideration  of  a 
valuable  sum  to  me  in  hand  paid  by  my  son,  Nathaniel  Junior,  and 
for  a  valuable  sum  paid  to  me  in  hand  by  my  daughters  Ruth.  Mar- 
garet, Abigail,  Hepzibath  and  Zer  ia  Wood,  bargain,  sell,  alien  and 
do  by  these  presents  bargain,  sell  and  confirm  unto  my  aforesaid 
son,  Nathaniel  Wrood  Ju  lior,  and  my  aforesaid  daughters  all  my 
land  lying  in  Leicester  aforesaid  excepting  my  wife's  thirds  which 
I  reserve  for  her  life  time  which  is  also  by  these  presents  after  her 
dese  e  sold  as  the  other  is  now,  the  one  half  to  my  son  Nathaniel 
Wood  Junior  of  Leicester  aforesaid  and  the  other  half  to  my  daugh- 
ters aforementioned  as  it  lyeth  on  both  sides  the  Count}'  Road  which 
goeth  to  Brookfield,  and  joyning  to  Brookfield  township  line 
Westwardly,  to  have  and  to  hold  Peaceably  and  Quietly  to  Enjoy 
with  the  Profit,  Privileges  and  appurtenances,  ways  and  easements  " 
29  Sept    1721. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1725,  he  again  deeds  his  Leicester 
land  to  his  children  by  a  document  which  is  substantially  a  copy 
of  his  deed  of  1721 ;  for  what  reason  is  not  known. 

In  the  Narragansett  War. 

From  records  which  follow  it  appears  that  Nathaniel  Wood 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Colonial  War  against  the  Narragansett  Indians 
in  1675,  and  in  1728,  fifty-three  years  after  the  final  battle,  the 
colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay  fulfilled  the  agreement  made  to  the 
soldiers  in  that  war,  when  before  marching  to  the  front  they  were 
promised  on  the  plains  at  Dedham  in  behalf  of  the  Massachusetts 
Council  that  "  if  they  played  the  man,  took  the  fort  and  drove  the 
enemy  out  of  the  Narragansett  country,  which  was  their  seat, 
they  should  have  a  gratuity  beside  their  wages."  This  gratuity 
took  the  form  of  a  gift  of  land  in  what  was  then  called  Narragan- 
sett Township  No.  3  and  was  located  in  what  is  now  the  town  of 
Amherst,  New  Hampshire.  This  grant  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  of  very  great  value  as  records  later  "show  that  in  1736  a  one- 
fourth  interest  in  this  tract  was  sold  for  $15.25.  This  was  indeed 
tardy  justice,  for  a  majority  of  those  who  served  in  that  war  were 
already  dead  and  past  need  of  recompense.  In  order  to  bring  vividly 
before  the  mind  the  danger  and  hardships  of  the  soldiers  during 
that  sanguinary  conflict  and  to  illustrate  the  value  of  their  services 
in  securing  peace  and  safety  to  the  white  settlements,  the  story  ot 
the  campaign  is  herewith  annexed  : 


NATHANIEL    WOOD.  I  3 

Preparing  for  the  Conflict. 

This  war,  which  lasted  three  years,  began  in  1675,  the  first 
troops  being  levied  on  June  24  of  that  year,  when  the  news  of  the 
attack  of  the  Indians  on  Swansea  reached  Boston.  Rev.  Geo. 
M.  Bodge  refers  to  the  preparation  as  follows:  "After 
their  somewhat  disastrous  campaign  of  the  early  autumn 
of  1675  in  the  western  part  ol  the  colony  of  Massachusetts, 
the  United  Colonies,  upon  information  that  the  hostile  In- 
dians with  Philip  were  retiring  towards  the  south  and  to 
winter  quarters  among  the  Narragansetts,  determined  to  carry 
the  war  against  this  powerful  tribe,  who  for  some  time  had 
shown  themselves  actively  hostile.  The  veteran  troops  were 
recalled  and  reorganized;  small  towns  in  various  parts  of  the  colo- 
nies were  garrisoned,  and  an  army  of  one  thousand  men  was 
equipped  for  the  winter  campaign.  General  Josiah  Winslow, 
Governor  of  Plymouth  Colony,  was  appointed  commander-in-chief 
of  the  army;  Major  Samuel  Appleton  to  the  command  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts regiment,  Major  William  Bradford  that  of  Plymouth,  and 
Major  Robert  Treat  that  of  Connecticut.  War  was  formally  de- 
clared against  the  Narragansetts  on  the  2d  of  November,  1675,  in 
a  meeting  of  the  United  Colonies  held  at  Boston  that  day." 

Promise  on  the  Plains  of  Dedham. 

General  Winslow  assumed  command  of  the  Massachusetts 
forces  Dec.  9,  1675;  they  were  drawn  up  on  Dedham  Plain,  where 
they  were  formally  delivered  to  him  by  Major- General  Davison. 
To  the  soldiers  a  proclamation  was  made  at  the  time  on  the  part  ol 
the  Massachusetts  Council,  that  '  if  they  played  the  man,  took  the 
fort,  and  drove  the  enemy  out  of  the  Narragansett  country,  which 
was  their  seat,  that  they  should  have  a  gratuity  besides  their 
wages."  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  they  marched 
twenty-seven  miles  to  Woodcock's  garrison,  now  Attleboro. 
In  the  evening  of  Friday,  Dec.  io,  they  arrived  at  Seekonk. 
From  there  a  portion  of  the  command  proceeded  by  water,  the  first 
of  the  troops  "  ferried  over  the  water  at  Providence,"  and  proba- 
bly formed  a  junction  with  the  main  part  of  the  Plymouth  regiment 
at  Providence  on  the  11th.  On  the  12th  the  troops  crossed  the 
Pawtuxet  river,  and  reached  Wickford  on  the  13th,  where  those 
who  had  gone  by  water  from  Seekonk  had  already  arrived;  that 
day  one  of  the  companies  captured  36  Indians.  At  Wickford  there 
was  a  garrison  house,  and  on  the  14th  the  whole  command, 
excepting  one  company  which  was  left  behind  to  keep  the  garri- 
son, moved  through  the  neighboring  country  to  the  westward, 
w7here  they  burned  the  village  of  the  sachem,  Ahmus,  destroy- 
ing 150  wigwams,  killing  7,  and  capturing  9  Indians.     Scouting 


14  SKETCHES    OE    SPENCER    HISTORY. 

in  the  vicinity  was  continued  with  more  or  less  effect  on  the  fol- 
lowing day.  The  country  through  which  the  troops  passed  seems 
to  have  been  pretty  thoroughly  scouted  by  the  detachments  from 
the  main  command  as  it  moved,  so  that  on  the  15th  they  had  cap- 
tured or  killed  50  persons,  and  had  at  that  time  40  prisoners. 
Two  days  later  47  captives  were  disposed  of.  On  the  18th  the 
march  was  resumed,  a  small  garrison  remaining  as  a  guard  to  the 
supplies  at  Wickford,  and  the  troops  reached  Pettiquamscot  in  the 
evening,  where  they  found  the  Connecticut  troops,  who  had  pre- 
ceded them;  these  troops  consisted  of  about  300  Englishmen  and 
150  Mohegan  Indians.  Here  the  strong  stone  garrison  house, 
which  they  had  hoped  to  occupy,  was  in  ruins,  having  been  re- 
cently destroyed  by  the  Indians;  a  fact  which  had  been  discovered 
the  day  before  by  Capt.  Prentice,  who  hid  scouted  the  country  in 
that  direction  by  his  cavalry  troop.  This  was  a  great  disappoint- 
ment, and  increased  the  hardship  they  had  to  endure.  In  a  severe 
snow  storm,  the  whole  force  of  about  one  thousand  men  encamped 
in  an  open  field  through  an  intensely  cold  night.  On  Sunday  morn- 
ing, Dec.  1  g,  before  daybreak,  the  whole  force  marched  toward 
the  enemy's  stronghold,  wading  through  the  snow  fourteen  or  fif- 
teen inches  deep. 

The  Narragansett  Fort  Fight. 

An  account  of  the  battle  was  given  by  Rev.  Geo.  M.  Bodge 
in  the  N.  E.  Historical  and  Genealogical  Register  for  January, 
1886,  as  follows  : 

"About  r  o'clock  p.  m.  the  army  came  upon  the  enemy  at  the 
edge  of  the  swamp,  in  the  midst  of  which  the  Indian  fortress  was 
built,  the  Massachusetts  troops  leading  in  the  march,  Plymouth 
next,  and  Connecticut  bringing  up  the  rear.  Of  the  Massachu- 
setts troops,  Captains  Mosely  and  Davenport  led  the  van  and  came 
first  upon  the  Indians,  and  immediately  opened  fire  on  them — thus 
in  the  beginning  gaining  the  important  advantage  of  the  first  fire, 
which  the  Indians  had  almost  always  gained  and  made  so  deadly 
by  deliberate  volleys  from  ambush,  as  they  doubtless  purposed 
now.  The  Indians  returned  the  fire  with  an  ineffectual  volley, 
and  then  fled  into  the  swamp  closely  followed  by  the  foremost  com- 
panies, who  did  not  wait  for  the  word  of  command,  or  stand  upon 
the  '  order  of  their  going,'  until  they  reached  the  fortifications 
within  which  the  Indians  hastily  betook  themselves.  This  fort 
was  situated  on  an  island  of  five  or  six  acres  in  the  midst  of  a  cedar 
swamp,  which  was  impassable  except  to  the  Indians  by  their 
accustomed  paths,  and  now  made  passable  only  by  the  severe  cold 
of  the  previous  day  and  night.  It  is  probable  that  the  Indians 
depended  principally  on  this  swamp  to  protect  them,  though  their 
defenses  are  described  as  having  been  enclosed,  and  from  a  careful 


NATHANIEL    WOOD.  15 

comparison  of  the  most  reliable  accounts,  it  seems  that  the  fortifi- 
cations were  well  planned,  probably  by  an  Englishman,  Joshua 
Teffe,  or  Tift,  as  Mr.  Dudley  calls  him.  Mr.  Hubbard  says: 
'The  Fort  was  raised  upon  a  kind  of  island  of  five  or  six  acres  of 
rising  laud  in  the  midst  of  a  swamp;  the  sides  of  it  were  made  of 
Palsadoes  set  upright,  which  was  compassed  about  with  a  hedge 
almost  a  rod  in  thickness.' 

How  the  Fort  Was  Made. 

"A  contemporaneous  writer  (whose  account  was  published 
in  London,  and  is  reprinted  in  Drake's  publication  called  the  '  Old 
Indian  Chronicle')  says:  'In  the  midst  of  the  swamp  was  a  piece 
of  firm  land,  of  about  three  or  four  acres,  whereon  the  Indians  had 
built  a  kind  of  a  fort,  being  palisaded  round,  and  within  that  a  clay 
wall,  as  also  felled  down  an  abundance  of  trees  to  lay  quite  round 
the  said  fort,  but  they  had  not  quite  finished  their  work.'  It  is  evi- 
dent from  these,  the  only  detailed  accounts,  and  from  some  casual 
references,  that  the  works  were  rude  and  incomplete,  but  would 
have  been  almost  impregnable  to  our  troops  had  not  the  swamp 
been  frozen.  At  the  corners  and  exposed  portions  rude  block- 
houses and  flankers  had  been  built,  from  which  a  raking  fire  could 
be  poured  upon  an  attacking  force.  Either  by  chance,  or  by  the 
skill  of  Peter,  their  Indian  guide,  the  English  seem  to  have  come 
upon  a  point  of  the  fort  where  the  Indians  did  not  expect  them. 
Mr.  Church,  in  relating  the  circumstances  of  Capt.  Gardiner's 
death,  says  that  he  was  shot  from  that  side  '  next  the  upland  where 
the  English  entered  the  swamp.'  The  place  where  he  fell  was  at 
the  'east  end  of  the  fort.'  The  tradition  that  the  English  ap- 
proached the  swamp  by  the  rising  land  in  front  of  the  '  Judge  Mer- 
chant'  house,  thus  seems  confirmed.  This  'upland'  lies  about 
north  of  the  battlefield. 

Pursuing  the  Enemy. 

"  Our  van  pursued  those  of  the  enemy  who  first  met  them  so 
closely  that  they  were  led  straight  to  the  entrance  used  by  the 
Indians  themselves,  perhaps  more  by  their  design  then  to  attract  at- 
tention from  an  exposed  part  of  their  works  a  short  distance  away. 
The  passage  left  by  the  Indians,  for  their  own  use,  as  before  men- 
tioned, was  by  a  long  tree  over  a  '  place  of  water,'  across  which 
but  one  man  could  pass  at  a  time,  and  which  '  was  so  waylaid  that 
they  would  have  been  cut  off  had  they  ventured.'  Mr.  Hubbard 
counts  among  the  fortunate  circumstances  of  that  day  that  the 
troops  did  not  attempt  to  carry  this  point  a  little  farther  on.  This 
was  at  a  corner  of  the  fort  where  was  a  large  unfinished  gap,  where 
neither  palisades  nor  abatis,  or  '  hedge,'  had  been  placed,  only  that 


l6  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

the  block  house  opposite  this  gap  and  the  flankers  at  the  sides  were 
finished,  from  which  a  galling  fire  might  sweep  and  enfilade  the 
passage. 

Two  Captains  Slain. 

"It  is  said  that  the  companies  of  Captains  Davenport  and 
Johnson  came  first  to  the  place,  and  at  once  charged  through  the 
gap  and  along  the  log  at  the  head  of  their  companies,  but  Johuson 
fell  dead  on  the  log,  and  Davenport  a  little  within  the  fort,  and 
their  men  were  met  by  so  fierce  a  fire  that  they  were  forced  to 
retire  again  and  fall  upon  their  faces  to  avoid  the  fury  of  the  mus- 
ketry until  it  should  somewhat  abate.  Mosely  and  Gardiner, 
pressed  to  their  assistance,  met  a  similar  reception,  losing  heavily, 
till  they  too  fell  back  with  the  others,  until  Major  Appleton  com- 
ing up  with  his  own  and  Capt.  Oliver's  men,  massed  his  entire 
force  as  a  storming  column,  and  it  is  said  that  the  shout  of  one  of 
the  commanders  that  the  Indians  were  running,  so  inspired  the 
soldiers  that  they  made  an  impetuous  assault,  carried  the  entrance 
again,  beat  the  enemy  trom  one  of  his  flankers  at  the  leit,  which 
afforded  them  a  temporary  shelter  from  the  Indians  still  holding 
the  block  house  opposite  the  entrance.  In  the  meantime,  the  gen- 
eral, holding  the  Plymouth  forces  in  reserve,  pushed  forward  the 
Connecticut  troops,  who,  not  being  aware  of  the  danger  from  the 
block  house,  suffered  fearfully  at  their  first  entrance,  but  charged 
forward  gallantly,  though  some  of  their  brave  officers  and  many  of 
their  comrades  lay  dead  behind  them,  and  unknown  numbers  and 
dangers  before.  The  forces  now  joining  beat  the  enemy  step  by 
step,  and  with  fierce  fighting,  out  ol  their  block  houses  and  vari- 
ous fortifications. 

Five  Hundred  Wigwams  Burned. 

"  Man}'  of  the  Indians  driven  from  their  works  fled  outside,  some 
doubtless  to  the  wigwams  inside,  of  which  there  were  saic  to  be  up- 
wards of  five  hundred,  many  of  them  large  and  rendered  bullet- 
proof by  large  quantities  of  grain  in  tubs  and  bags  placed  along 
the  sides.  In  these  many  of  their  old  people  and  their  women  and 
children  had  gathered  for  safety,  and  behind  and  within  these 
as  defences  the  Indians  still  kept  up  a  skulking  fight,  picking  off 
our  men.  After  three  hours'  hard  fighting,  with  many  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men  wounded  or  dead,  a  treacherous  enemy  of  unknown 
numbers  and  resources  lurking  in  the  surrounding  forests,  and  the 
night  coming  on,  word  came  to  fire  the  wigwams,  and  the  battle 
became  a  fearful  holocaust,  great  numbers  of  those  who  had  taken 
refuge  there  being  burned. 

Dreadful  Carnage. 

"There  had  been  dreadful  carnage  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
bers engaged.      It  is  not  certain  at  just  what  point  the  Plymouth 


NATHANIEL    WOOD  I  7 

forces  were  pushed  forward,  but  most  likely  after  the  works  were 
carried,  and  the  foremost,  exhausted,  retired  for  a  time  bearing 
their  dead  and  wounded  to  the  rear;  but  we  are  assured  that  all 
took  part  in  the  engagement,  coming  on  in  turn  as  needed.  It  is 
doubtful  if  the  cavalry  crossed  the  swamp,  but  were  held  in  reserve 
and  as  scouts  to  cover  the  rear  and  prevent  surprise  from  any  out- 
side parties. 

"  When  now  the  fortress  was  burning  and  destruction  assured 
our  soldiers  hastily  gathered  their  wounded  and  as  many  as  possi- 
ble of  their  dead,  and  formed  their  shattered  column  for  the  long 
and  weary  march  back  to  Wickford. 

"  I  wish  here  to  record  my  protest  against  the  unjust,  often 
weak,  and  always  inconsiderate,  criticism  bestowed  upon  our  lead- 
ers in  this  campaign,  and  especially  in  this  battle,  for  their  lack  of 
foresight  in  abandoning  the  shelter  and  provisions  of  the  fort,  the 
security  of  the  lives  of  our  wounded  men  through  removal,  and 
the  dangers  and  fatigue  of  a  long  march,  and  their  inhumanity  in 
burning  the  helpless  in  their  huts  and  wigwams. 

Some  of  our  Best  Men  in  the  Fight. 

"It  is  well  to  remember  at  the  start  that  many  of  the  wisest, 
ablest,  best  and  bravest  men  of  the  three  colonies  were  the  leaders 
in  this  affair. 

"A  noble  commander,  wise  and  brave,  reverend  ministers,  by 
no  meansbackwatd  in  their  opinions;  the  most  prominent  and  skilful 
surgeons  the  country  afforded;  veteran  majors  and  captains  of 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  with  their  soldiers  fresh  from  the 
severe  experiences  in  the  western  campaign,  inured  to  danger  and 
experienced  in  Indian  wiles  and  deceits. 

"They  were  some  sixteen  miles  from  their  base  of  supplies 
at  Wickford  (it  is  doubtless  if  they  had  noticed  the  Indian 
supplies  until  the  burning  began  ).  There  was  no  way  of  reaching 
their  supplies  of  provisions  and  ammunition  at  Wickford  except 
by  detaching  a  portion  of  their  force  now  greatly  reduced  by  death, 
wounds  and  exposure.  The  number  of  Indians  that  had  escaped 
and  were  still  in  the  woods  close  at  hand,  were  unknown,  but  sup- 
posed to  be  several  thousand  with  the  report  of  a  thousand  in 
reserve  about  a  mile  distant. 

Indians  Alight  Rally. 

"These  were  scattered  and  demoralized,  but  in  a  few  hours 
might  rally  and  fall  upon  the  fort,  put  our  troops  in  a  weakened 
condition  upon  the  defensive,  and  make  their  retreat  from  the 
swamp  extremely  difficult  if  not  utterly  impossible,  encumbered 
as  they  would  be  by  the  wounded,  whose  swollen  and  stiffened 
wounds  in  a  few  hours  would  render  removal  doubly  painful  and 


1 8  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

dangerous.  Added  to  this  was  the  chance  of  an  attack  upon  the 
garrison  at  Wickford,  and  dread  of  the  midnight  ambuscade,  which 
every  hour's  delay  made  more  likely  and  would  render  more  dan- 
gerous. Thus  it  seems  to  me  that  from  the  standpoint  of  military 
strategy,  the  immediate  retreat  to  Wickford  was  best.  As  to  hu- 
manity, we  must  remember  the  harsh  times  in  which  they  were 
living,  the  contempt  in  which  the  Indians  were  held — first,  as 
heathen,  against  whom  war  was  righteous;  second,  as  idle  and 
treacherous  vagabonds,  with  no  rights  which  honest  industry  was 
bound  to  respect;  third,  as  enemies,  lying  in  wait  to  plunder,  burn 
and  destroy. 

Carrying  Wounded  in  a  Blinding  Snowstorm. 

"  Of  the  march  back  to  Wickford  very  little  is  known;  though 
a  bitter  cold  winter's  night,  in  a  blinding  snow  storm,  carrying 
2 10  of  their  wounded  and  dead,  these  soldiers  who  had  marched 
from  dawn  till  noon,  had  engaged  in  a  desperate  life-and-death 
struggle  from  noon  to  sunset,  now  plodded  sturdily  back  to  their 
quarters  of  the  day  before,  through  deepening  snows  and  over 
unbroken  roads." 

While  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  from  Nathaniel  Wood  an 
account  of  his  part  in  that  famous  battle  cannot  be  obtained,  the 
fact  that  he  was  there  and  did  his  full  duty,  adds  to  our  interest  in 
the  man,  and  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  as  the  first  settler 
in  Spencer. 

Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.  Sells  Brookfield  Land. 

On  Feb.  15,  1726,  Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.,  of  Brookfield,  Hus- 
bandman, sold  to  Benjamin  Brooks  Jr.,  of  Springfield,  for 

Fourty  pounds,  one  tract  of  upland  situate  in  Brookfield 
in  ye  county  of  Hampshire  or  in  the  town  of  Leicester  in  ye  county 
of  Middlesex,  containing  by  estimation  Fourty  acres,  bounded  as 
followeth,  lying  north  of  Seven  Mile  river,  running  from  said  river 
northerly  165  rods  to  a  walnut  tree  marked  T,  then  westvvardly  40 
rods  to  a  black  oak  tree  marked  T,  being  32  rods  wide  at  the  south 
end,  bounded  westwardly  on  Phineas  Walker's  land  and  partly  on 
John  Hamilton,  Jr.  land  southerly  on  the  river,  easterly  on  the 
town  line,  north  on  common  land. 

We  learn  from  the  will  of  Nathaniel  Wood  executed  in  1732 
that  he  had  previously  given  to  his  children  "my  land  which  I 
had  at  Brookfield  "  and  although  no  record  has  been  found  certify- 
ing to  this  statement,  this  partly  accounts  for  the  possession  of 
the  land  by  Nathaniel  Wood,  Jr. 

According  to  records  which  follow,  the  Wood  family  again  re- 
moved to  Leicester  but  it  seems  probable  that  they  returned  to 
Ipswich  in  the  spring  of  1729  or  earlier,  as  the  Brookfield  real  es- 
tate had  been  sold  in  1726,  and  now  the  Leicester  land  is  prac- 
tically disposed  of  to  John  Wood  (not  a  relative)  as  follows: 


NATHANIEL   WOOD.  19 


Nathaniel  Wood,  Jr.,  Sells  Leicester  Land. 

"  Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.  of  Leicester  for  32  pounds  paid  by  John 
Wood  of  Ipswich  sells  March  28,  1729,  a  full  half  part  of  a  fifty 
acre  lot  that  he  bought  of  Col.  Wm.  Dudley  of  Roxbury,  bounded 
southerly  by  Seven  Mile  river,  westerly  by  Brookfield  town  line, 
northerly  by  land  in  Common  belonging  to  Leicester  proprietors, 
easterly  by  land  of  Samuel  Bemis."  On  the  same  date  Nathaniel 
Wood  Jr.  disposes  of  his  real  estate  in  Ipswich  that  he  inherited 
from  his  grandfather,  Obadiah. 

Deed  of  Nathaniel  Wood,  Jr.  to  John  Wood,  March  28,  1729. 

I,  Nathaniel  Wood,  Jr.,  of  Leicester,  son  of  Nathaniel  Wood 
of  Leicester;  that  is  to  say,  eldest  son  of  ye  said  Nathaniel  Wood 
and  grandson  of  Obadiah  Wood,  late  of  Ipswich  in  the  Comity  of 
Essex — Baker — for  the  full  sum  of  32  pounds  in  bills  of  credit  to 
me  in  hand  paid  by  John  Wood  of  Ipswich  —  Shoreman  —  do  sell 
to  him  my  land  in  Ipswich  which  I  inherited  from  my  grandfather, 
Obadiah  Wood,  of  Ipswich,  by  his  will  dated  Oct.  26,  1694. 

The  full  text  of  the  will  of  Obadiah  Wood  is  as  follows: 

In  ye  Name  of  God  Amen.  I  Obadiah  Wood  of  Ipswich  in 
ye  County  of  Essex,  Baker,  this  26th  of  October  in  ye  year  of  our 
Lord  God  One  Thousand  Six  hundred  and  ninety-four  beeing  sicke  in 
body  but  of  good  and  perfect  Memory  Thanks  bee  to  God  doe 
make,  constitute,  ordain  and  declair  this  my  last  Will  and  Testa- 
ment in  maner  and  forme  following,  revoking  and  anulling  by 
these  presents  all  other  and  former  Wills  and  Testaments  bv  me'e 
made  in  worde  or  writing  and  this  only  to  bee  taken  for  my  last 
Will  and  Testament  and  none  other  And  first  I  give  and  comit  my 
soule  into  ye  hands  of  Allmighty  God  my  Saviour  and  Redeemer 
in  whom  by  ye  meritt  of  Jesus  Christ  I  Trust  to  bee  saved  and  my 
body  to  ye  Earth  theare  to  be  decently  Interred  at  ye  discretion 
of  my  Executors  hearafter  named  and  for  my  temporal!  Estat  I  will 
that  all  those  debts  and  dutys  that  I  owe  in  right  and  Con cience 
to  any  maner  of  person  Shall  bee  well  and  truly  payd  by  my  exe- 
cuters  after  my  decease. 

I  give  unto  my  deare  and  Loveing  Wife  ye  one  halfe  of  ye 
Income  of  my  wholl  Estate  dureing  her  widdowhood  and  in  Case 
She  Hapen  to  Marye  my  will  is  that  my  Sonn  James  pay  her  Twenty 
pounds. 

Item  I  give  and  bequeathe  unto  my  Eldest  Sonn  Obadiah 
fifety  Shillings  to  be  payd  in  Twelve  yeares  after  my  decease. 

Item  I  give  and  bequeath  unto  my  Sonn  Nathaniell  Twenty 
Shillings  to  bee  payd  within  ye  Sd  terme  of  years. 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Sonn  Josiah  Twenty  Shillings  to  bee 
payd  in  ye  Sd  terme. 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Sonn  Samuell  five  Shillings  to  bee  payd 
in  ye  Sd  terme 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Daughter  Elizabeth  three  pounds  to  tee 
payd  in  four  yeares  after  my  decease 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Daughter  Mary  Fourty  Shillings  in 
Twellve  yeares  and  a  Child's  Mantle  thnt  was  my  former  wife's 
Imediatlv  after  mv  decease. 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Item  I  give  unto  ye  Child  of  my  daughter  Ruth  deceased  Ten 
Shillings  in  Twelve  yeares  after  my  decease. 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Daughter  Susanna  Thirty  Shillings  in  ye 
Terme  of  Twellve  years. 

Item  I  give  unto  my  daughter  Margaret  Twenty  Shillings  in 
ye  Terme  of  Twellve  yeares 

Item  I  give  unto  my  Sonn  James  and  his  Male  heirs  lawfully 
begotten  of  his  body  for  Ever  all  ye  rest  of  my  Estat  reall  and 
personal  of  what  nature  or  kind  Soever  and  if  it  So  hapen  that  hee 
dye  without  such  Male  heir  then  my  will  is  that  my  house  and  land 
bee  given  unto  ye  Eldest  Sonn  of  my  Sonn  Nathaniel  and  ye  Male 
heirs  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten  for  Ever  and  if  it  so  hapen  that 
hee  dye  without  such  Issue  then  my  will  is  that  my  Son  Josiahs 
Eldest  Son  have  my  house  and  land  and  ye  Male  heirs  of  his  body 
lawfully  begotten  for  Ever  and  if  hee  happen  to  dye  without  such 
Issue  my  will  is  that  it  descend  to  ye  Second  Son  of  ye  Sd  Josiahs 
in  like  maner  and  in  Case  of  faillure  of  such  Issue  to  ye  third  and 
fourth  Sonns  and  their  issues  for  Ever  and  I  doe  appoint  and 
constitute  my  well  beloved  wife  and  my  son  James  Executors  of  this 
my  last  Will  and  Testament  in  wittness  wheorof  I  have  hear  unto 
sett  my  hand  and  seale  ye  day  and  yeare  Above  written. 

Signed,  Sealed  and  declared  in  ye 
Presence 

Jno  Staniford, 
Jacob  ffoster, 
John  Sparke. 

Jura  by  all  three  Dec.  3d,  1694. 
Will  proved  Dec.  3d,  1694;  Rec.  Book 
Salem  303,  Page  265. 

The  next  document  of  interest  is  the  will  of  Nathaniel  Wood, 
executed  at  Topsfield,  a  town  adjoining  Ipswich,  his  birthplace. 

Will  of  Nathaniel  Wood,  Senior. 

I,  Nathaniel  Wood  of  Topsfield,  in  the  County  of  Essex  in 
New  England,  being  at  this  present  of  perfect  understanding  and 
memory  but  weak  of  body  and  not  knowing  how  soon  it  may  please 
God  to  call  me  out  of  this  world,  I  have  made  such  disposal  of  my 
temporal  estate  which  God  in  his  grace  has  given  me  in  this  world 
as  followeth,  and  in  the  first  place  commending  my  immortal  soul 
to  the  hands  of  God  who  gave  it  me  whensoever  it  shall  please  God 
to  take  me  out  of  this  world  and  my  body  to  a  decent  Interment, 
my  Will  is  then  as  followeth: 

Item — as  for  my  son  Nathaniel,  I  have  given  him  his  portion 
allready  by  giving  him  a  deed  of  Gift  of  half  my  land  which  I  had 
at  Brookrield. 

Item — as  for  my  daughter  Mary,  I  have  given  her  what  I  in- 
tended to  in  bringing  up  her  child  and  in  what  I  design  to  give 
him,  which  is  hereafter  mentioned 

Item — as  for  my  other  half  of  the  land  which  I  had  at  Brook- 
field  I  have  given  by  a  deed  of  gift  to  my  daughters  hereafter  named 
Ruth,  Abigail  and  Hepzibah,  which  is  what  I  design  they  shall  have 
for  their  portion. 

Item — I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  daughter  Margaret  the  one 
half  of  that  land  which  was  granted  to  me  by  the  General  Court  for 
serving  his  Majesty  in  the  Narragansett    War,  and  the  other  half  to 


NATHANIEL    WOOD.  21 


be  equally  divided  between  my  daughter  Surviah  and  my  grandson, 
Robert  Down. 

Item — My  will  is  that  my  dear  and  well  beloved  wife,  Lucy, 
shall  have  all  my  indoor  movables  during  her  life,  and  then  my  in- 
door movables  to  be  equally  divided  amongst  my  daughters  above 
named.  Also  I  constitute  and  appoint  my  dear  and  well  beloved 
wife  Lucy,  to  be  sole  executor  of  this  my  last  will  and  testament 
and  in  testimony  of  the  truth  of  what  is  above  written,  I,  the  said 
Nathaniel  Wood,  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  26th  day 
of  Jan 'v. 

Anno  Domi  1732. 

HIS 
NATHANIEL    X    WOOD. 
MARK 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses. 

Daniel  Clark, 

Nathaniel  Capen, 

Israel  Clark. 

Essex  ss.  Ipswich,  July  5,  1732. 

Before  the  Hon.  John  Appleton,  Esq  ,  Judge  of  ye  probate  of 
Wills  in  said  County  of  Essex,  Daniel  Clark,  Nathaniel  Capen  and 
Israel  Clark  all  personally  appeared  and  made  oath  that  they  were 
present  and  saw  Nathaniel  Wood  late  of  Topsfield,  deceased,  sign, 
seal  and  heard  him  publish  and  declare  ye  within  instrument  to  be 
his  last  will  and  testiment  and  when  he  did  he  was  of  good  under- 
standing and  of  a  disposing  mind  to  the  best  of  their  discerning  and 
thev  at  the  same  time  set  to  their  hands  and  seals  in  his  presence  as 
witnesses      Sworn  attest.  DANIEL  APPLETON,  Registet . 

Upon  which  this  will  is  proven,  approved  and  allowed,  it  be- 
ing presented  by  ye  Executor  therein  named. 

Nathaniel  Wood  Dies. 

As  will  be  seen  by  the  probating  of  the  will,  Nathaniel  Wood 
was  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  the  summer  of  1732,  and  at  this  time 
his  wife  and  most  of  bis  children  appear  to  have  been  living  either 
at  Ipswich  or  Topsfield.  His  son,  Nathaniel  Jr.  of  Ipswich,  and 
Mary  Walcott  of  Salem  were  published  Nov.  9,  1728.  Presuma- 
bly they  were  married  and  his  w7ife  deceased  without  issue.  Again 
Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.  of  Ipswich  and  the  "  Widdo  Elizabeth  Good- 
hue of  Chester  in  New  Hampshire"  were  published  Nov.  27, 
1 73 1  and  later  were  married.  At  the  Topsfield  church  Sept.  7, 
J735>  Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.  "  owned  ye  covenant "  and  on  the  same 
date  his  daughter  Lucy  was  baptized.  A  son,  Obadiah,  was  born 
Jan.  2,  1735,  and  these  are  all  the  children  of  Nathaniel  Jr.  whose 
names  have  been  found  recorded. 

Jonas  Bemis  Probably  did  not  /Marry  a  Daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Wood. 

It  therefore  seems  extremely  improbable  that  Jonas  Bemis, 
whom  Draper's  History  says  "  married  Dolly,  daughter  of  Nathan- 
iel Wood,"  could  have  found  his  wife  in  either  of  these  tamilies. 
The  marriage  record  states  that   "Jonas  Bemis  of  Spencer  and 


22  SKETCHES   OF    SPENCER    HISTORY 


Dorothy  Wood  of  Brookfield  were  married  at  Leicester  Jan.  5, 
1758."  He  was  then  twenty  years  of  age  and  there  was  but 
one  Dorothy  Wood  known  to  the  Brookfield  records  of  that  time 
and  she  was  the  daughter  of  Josiah  and  Dorothy  Wood,  and  was 
born  in  Brookfield,  Feb.  9,  1733.  She  was  thus  lour  years 
the  senior  of  Jonas  Bemis,  but  in  view  of  all  the  facts  ap- 
pears to  have  been  the  person  whom  he  married.  Objection 
might  be  made  that  she  was  called  Dolly  in  the  later  years  of  her 
life.  But  Dolly  is  only  a  modification  or  substitute  for  Dorothy 
and  there  are  numerous  instances  in  the  records  ot  those  times 
which  show  that  such  substitutions  were  not  uncommon. 

The  last  conveyance  we  have  of  Nathaniel  Wood  Jr.  is  dated 
in  1734  and  disposes  of  his  entire  interest  in  the  Leicester  pro- 
perty, as  follows  : 

Part  copy  of  a  Deed  from  Nathaniel  Wood,  Jr.  of  Epswich, 
county  of  Essex,  to  Robert  Emmons  of  brookfield,  in  ye  county  of 
Worcester,  dated  Apr.  8,  1734.     For  4olbs  good  and  lawful  money 
25  acres  of  land  in  the  township  of  Leicester,  viz:  all  my  right  of  one 
hundred  acres  which  lot  of  land  was  formerly  laid  out  to  Nathaniel 
Wood,  Sr. ,  the  whole  being  bounded  westerly  upon  the  town  line 
parting  between  Brookfield  and  Leicester  and  southerly  upon  seven 
mile  river  and  easterly  upon  Samuel  Bemis   land    and    northerly 
bounded  formerly  on  Corion  land. 
The  reference  to  a  deed  establishing  the  iact  that  Nathaniel 
Wood  served  in  the  Narragansett  war  is  found  as  follows  in  a  con- 
veyance from 

Zerviah  Wood  to  Margret  Wood 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  I,  Zerviah  Wood,  Spin- 
ster, of  Ipswich,  in  ye  County  of  Essex,  in  his  Majesties  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  do  for  and  in  Consideration 
of  three  pounds  ten  shillings  to  me  in  hand  paid  by  my  sister,  Mar- 
gret  Wood,  Spinster,  of  Topsfield,  in  the  County  and  Province  afore- 
said, I  have  bargained  and  sold  and  do  by  these  presents  bargain, 
sell,  make  over,  ratify  and  confirm  to  her  my  sister,  her  heirs,  exec- 
utors, administrators  and  assigns,  a  certain  parcel  of  land  being 
one  quarter  part  of  a  share  of  lands  which  my  father,  Nathaniel 
Wood,  late  of  Topsfield,  deceased,  had  or  was  to  have  had  for  his 
service  done  at  ye  Narragansett  fort  fight  in  the  former  Indian  War, 
called  Phillip's  War,  which  land  or  lands  I  acquitted  my  claim 
thereto  to  mv  said  sister,  her  heirs,  etc.     Mch.   17,  1734. 

HER 
ZERVIAH     X     WOOD. 
MARK 
Josiah  Wood,  mentioned  above,  was  granted  165  acres  of  land 
by  the  town  of  Brookfield.     His  children  of  record  are  as  follows: 
Obadiah,  born  April  22,  1726, 
Anna,  born  April  5,  1729, 
Dorothy,  born  February  9,  1733, 
Thomas,  born  March  2,  1736. 

It  appears  probable  that  Thomas  Wood,  brother  of  Dorothy, 
was  the  one  who  served  in  the  French  war  in  the  same  company 
with  Jonas  Bemis. 


WOOD    AND    BEMIS    MAP. 


23 


MAP  SHOWING  LOCATION  OF  LOTS  29  AND  36, 
Drawn  by  Paul  Dudley,  Esq.,  at  the  Proprietors'  meeting  in  Boston,  June  6,   1717. 

Explanation  of  Map. 

Tract  marked  36  with  the  Seven  Mile  river  as  the  southern 
boundary  and  double  lines  on  the  three  other  sides,  represents  the 
100  acres  which   Paul   Dudley,   Esq.   probably  sold  to  Nathaniel 


24 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Wood  soon  after  the  proprietors'  meeting  in  Boston,  June  6,  17 17. 
Tract  marked  Nathaniel  Wood  represents  his  Brookfield  grant 
of  forty  acres  in  17 14,  and  which  he  selected  adjoining  the  Leices- 
ter line  with  the  Seven  Mile  river  as  its  southern  boundary.. 

1.  It  was  here  that  Nathaniel  Wood  in  17 17  built  his  cabin, 
which  according  to  the  late  Abner  Howland,  for  a  long  time  owner 
of  the  farm,  stood  about  eight  rods  north  of  the  present  residence 
of  Cyril  Coron.  He  was  the  first  settler  in  the  western  half  oi  the 
township  of  Leicester  which  is  now  called  Spencer. 

2.  Nathaniel  Wood  in  Brookfield.  By  the  terms  of  his 
grant,  confirmed  to  him  December  1,  1720  for  the  second  time,  he 
must  settle  on  the  land  within  one  year,  and  live  on  it  three  years 


III      III  I 

111      in 
111      111 


111 

111  - 

III 

III 

111 

III 

III 

III 

5-HOUSE   PROBABLY  BUILT  BY  NATHAN  BEMIS,  SR. 

in  order  to  get  a  clear  title.  It  seems  probable  that  he  located  his 
dwelling  but  a  short  distance  west  of  the  house  now  owned  by 
Lewis  D.  Howland,  and  which  stands  on  the  original  Wood  tract. 
This  house  was  erected  in  1S10  and  at  that  time  an  old  house 
stood  not  more  than  a  rod  distant  from  it  to  the  west.  It  seems 
probable  that  this  house  may  have  been  one  that  superseded  the 
Wood  cabin. 

3.  This  is  where  Samuel  Bemis,  the  second  settler  and  founder 
of  Spencer,  settled  in  1721,  and  within  the  boundary  lines  of  lots 
29  and  36  the  location  is  shown  of  his  400  acres  of  land. 

4.  Lieut.  Edmond  Bemis,  son  of  Samuel,  settled  here  in 
1749.  Between  3  and  4,  house  9  formerly  stood,  ten  rods  west  of 
the  Samuel  Bemis  house.     This  house  was  built  by  Amasa  Bemis 


WOOD    AND    BEMIS    MAP. 


25 


for  his  son,  Benjamin,  but  was  moved  to  its  present  location  in 
1841,  another  story  added,  and  then  occupied  by  Danforth  Bemis, 
son  of  Amasa,   until  his  death,  December  1,  1852. 

5.  This  is  the  site  of  the  original  house  built  by  Nathaniel 
Bemis  en  the  100  acres  purchased  of  his  father.  Samuel,  in  1753. 
Nathan  Bemis,  his  son,  inherited  the  homestead  and  after  him  his 
son,  John  Bemis  2d,  who  was  the  first  inventor  of  rotary  peg  cut- 
ting machinery. 

6.  The  Nathan  Bemis  Jr.  place,  now  owned  by  Thomas 
Semino.      Mr.  Bemis  owned  and  operated  the  saw  mill  west  of  his 


6— NATHAN  BEMIS,  JR .,   HOUSE. 

house.     He  and  his  wife  Lucy  died  here  from  typhoid  fever  in  the 
fall  of  1856. 

7.  The  Richard  Beers  house,  built  about  1761.  The  farm 
was  afterwards  owned  by  Nathaniel  Bemis,  Jr.,  and  the  house  torn 
down  about  1852. 

8.  George  Bemis  house,  built  1852.  The  timber  for  this 
dwelling  was  sawed  at  the  Nathan  Bemis,  Jr.  mill. 

9.  Danforth  Bemis  house. 

10.  House  owned  by  the  Town  of  Spencer  and  occupied  by 
the  manager  of  the  filter  beds.  This  was  formerly  a  school  house 
in  the  South  Spencer  district. 

1 1 .  This  house  was  formerly  an  ell  running  north  from  the 
large  tavern  house  built  by  Amasa  Bemis  in  1807,  and  connecting 


26  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


with  the  first  framed  house  of  Samuel  Bemis.  It  was  used  largely 
for  wood  and  general  storage  purposes.  It  was  said  by  the  late 
Lorenzo  Bemis,  that  formerly  in  the  first  story  there  were  two 
doors  opposite  each  other,  one  on  either  side  of  the  house,  and 
when  a  large  log  was  needed  for  the  fire  place,  a  horse  was  hitched 
to  one  of  the  right  dimensions  and  it  was  then  drawn  into  this 
ell,  the  horse  passing  through,  and  the  log,  left  inside  where 
wanted.  This  house  was  moved  to  its  present  location  about 
1841,  and  was  sold  to  Hannah  Green,  a  daughter  of  Jonas 
Bemis,  Sr. 

12.     Residence  of  Cheney  Bemis,    Sr.,   a   son  of  Nathaniel 
Bemis  Sr. 


11— FIRST  HOUSE  EAST  OF  SEVEN  MILE  RIVER  BRIDGE 

And  first  occupied  in  its  present  Location  by  Hannah  Green,   Grand-daughter 

of  Samuel  Bemis,  Sv. 

13.  The  John  Ormes  place,  settled  in  1732  and  house  now 
destroyed.  This  is  where  Elizabeth  Ormes,  wife  of  John,  died 
May  19,  17S5,  aged  100  years,  5  months  and  9  days. 

14.  Nathan  Bemis,  Jr.,  saw  mill,  and  John  Bemis  2d,  peg 
factory. 

This  mill  was  one  of  the  old  style  with  an  up  and  down  saw,  and 
was  on  so  small  a  stream  that  the  heavier  work  of  the  year  had  to 
be  done  in  the  spring,  at  which  time  about  sixty  dollars  for  saw- 
ing was  annually  received.  There  were  two  reservoirs  made 
further  up  the  stream  to  hold  water  in  reserve,  and  let  down  as 
needed. 

15.  "Pine  Island,"  thus  described  in  a  deed  from  Samuel 
Bemis    to   Samuel    Flagg    in     1762,    conveying     100    acres    off 


WOOD    AND    BEMIS    MAP. 


27 


from  the  east  end  of  his  farm,  but  reserving  this  lot  and 
a  right  of  way  to  it  through  "  gates  and  bars."  It  is  not  really 
an  island,  but  is  a  tract  of  about  eleven  acres  of  upland  sur- 
rounded largely  by  a  meadow  and  with  brooks  flowing  on  all  sides. 
It  gained  considerable  notoriety,  some  fifty  years  or  less  ago,  as  the 
residence  of  one  William  Humphrey,  a  colored  man,  who  with  his 
family  occupied  a  cabin  here  and  made  baskets,  which  he  sold 
from  house  to  house. 

16.  The  original  location  of  the  house  where  Elijah  Howe, 
Sr.,  settled  about  1776. 

17.  The  location  of  a  large  red  oak  now  standing  on  the 
South  Spencer  road.  This  oak  is  three  feet  eight  inches  in 
diameter  and  is  one  of  the  very  largest  of  its  kind  in  Spencer. 

18.  Large  boulder  on  the  roadside  about  four  rods  south  of 
the  oak  tree.     It  was  here,  in  the  fall  of  1807,    that  three  girls 


12-THE  CHENEY  BEMIS  HOUSE,  SOUTH  SPENCER. 

about  fifteen  years  of  age,  companions  of  Ruth  Bemis,  w  ho  lived 
with  her  father,  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  at  the  Richard  Beers  place  some 
fifteen  rods  farther  south,  hid  themselves  one  dark  evening  for 
the  purpose  of  frightening  their  companion  whom  they  knew 
would  soon  pass  on  her  way  home.  They  likewise  knew  that  Ruth 
was  an  unusually  timid  girl.  Their  plan  succeeded  only  too  well 
and  in  great  terror  the  girl  ran  home  to  fall  in  a  swoon  in  the 
vestibule  of  her  father's  house.  After  her  recovery  from  this  she 
commenced  to  bleed  from  the  lungs  and  rapidly  declining  in 
health,  died  May  5,  1808,  aged  15  years,  8  months.  Thus,  what 
was  conceived  in  a  spirit  of  fun  and  as  a  harmless  diversion,  proved 


28 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


in  its  sequel  to  be  one  of  the  saddest  bereavements  that  ever  came 
to  the  Bemis  family. 

19.  The  old  district  No.  9,  Red  school  house,  now  at  West- 
ville,  transformed  into  a  dwelling  and  occupied  by  Orin  D.  Barr. 

20.  This  is  very  near  the  place  where  about  a  century  ago  an 
attempt  was  made  at  highway  robbery.  The  would-be  robber, 
however,  did  not  succeed.  His  intended  victim,  Dr.  Benjamin 
Drury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  Spencer  at  the  time, 
being  a  man  of  nerve,  and  on  horseback,  was  enabled  to  make  his 
escape  without  the  loss  of  his  purse. 

Between  house  No.  1 1  and  the  Seven  Mile  river,  on  the  bluff 
about  six  rodstrom  the  stream,  is  the  remains  of  the  cellar  of  Sam- 


CHENEY  BEMIS, 

Farmer  of  South  Spencer,  son  of  Nathan  Bemis,  Sr.,'and  great  grand- 
son of  Samuel  Bemis,    Sr.     Born  in  Spencer,  Julv6,  1798;  died  in 
Spencer,  April  3,  1876,  of  old  age;  grandfather  of  Frank  A. 
Drury,   cashier  Spencer   National   bank. 

uel  Flagg  who  in  1762  purchased  of  Samuel  Bemis  100  acres  of  the 
east  end  of  his  farm  and  built  a  house  at  this  place.  Thirty- 
two  years  la-ter,  after  Mr.  Flagg  had  moved  and  settled  on  lot 
67,  Elijah  Howe,  Jr.,  and  Fannie  Bemis,  daughter  of  Joshua, 
Sr.,     married,      and    here    commenced     housekeeping.        They 


WOOD    AND    BEMIS    MAP.  29 

started  on  a  very  moderate  scale,  she  having  only  one  tin 
pail  for  a  great  many  cooking  purposes,  including  its  use  as 
a  teapot,  while  his  complete  list  of  mechanical  appliances  with 
which  to  get  a  living,  consisted  of  one  axe,  but  being  good 
workers  they  soon  managed  to  add  to  their  stock  such  uten- 
sils for  domestic  use,  and  tools  for  mechanical  use,  as  were 
needed  until  they  were  soon  on  a  par  in  those  respects  with  the 
more  favored  families  in  the  town. 

A  hundred  rods  or  more  up  the  river  northeasterly  from  No. 
3  was  located  the  Amasa  Bemis  family  tomb. 

On  the  plain  west  of  the  Catholic  cemeteries  is  where 
the  larger  part  of  the  Hessian  prisoners,  captured  at  Sara- 
toga, encamped  when  they  passed  through  Spencer,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1777.  The  late  Alonzo  Temple  learned  from  those  living 
at  the  time,  that  the  pine  trees  for  quite  a  distance  around  the 
encampment  were  denuded  of  the  lower  dead  branches  in  order 
to  furnish  fuel  for  their  camp  fires.  The  following  account  is 
taken  from  the  Spencer  Star,  a  paper  published  May  1,  1874: 
"  In  October,  1777,  part  of  Burgoyne's  captured  army,  over 
two  thousand,  passed  through  the  place  and  spent  the  night 
in  Spencer,  occupying  nearly  every  house  and  barn.  The  Hes- 
sian general  entered  the  house  of  the  minister  (Rev.  Joseph  Pope), 
with  an  apology  for  the  intrusion.  His  servants  followed  and  were 
about  to  prepare  his  evening  meal  and  couch  for  the  night.  The 
minister  invited  him  to  accept  his  hospitality  and  sit  at  his  table. 
With  a  wave  of  his  hand  the  general  dismissed  his  servants.  The 
minister's  wife  (Mrs.  Anna  Pope),  then  a  bride  of  three  weeks, 
who  lived  in  the  same  house  until  over  one  hundred  and  four 
years  of  age,  even  after  passing  her  one  hundredth  year,  would 
tell  the  conversation  of  the  general.  One  remark  was  '  that  in  no 
place  were  rank  and  subordination  more  strictly  observed  than  in 
Hesse  Cassel,  and  their  ladies  were  ladies  indeed.'  On  retiring 
for  the  night  he  entrusted  to  her  care  his  badge  of  Knighthood 
and  medals  of  Honor." 

However  gracious  the  German  women  of  the  general's  ac- 
quaintance may  have  been,  American  history  records  that  the  Hes- 
sian soldiers  were  cruel  and  overbearing. 

In  the  Nathan  Bemis  Jr.  mill  pond,  south  of  the  peg  factory, 
Valentine,  son  of  Dwight  Hill,  was  drowned,  June  5,  1831,  aged 
21.  With  a  companion  he  had  prepared  to  go  in  bathing,  and 
stepping  into  the  pond  where  the  embankment  was  steep,  soon 
was  in  the  water  out  of  his  depth.  Not  being  able  to  swim,  his 
companion  tried  to  rescue  him,  but  nearly  lost  his  own  life  in  con- 
sequence as  the  drowning  man  clung  to  his  would-be  rescuer  with 
all  the  tenacity  of  one  who  sees  his  last  chance  for  life  vanishing. 
Not  being  able  to  find  the  body,  the  mill  pond  was  drawn  off  to 
obtain  it. 


INCEPTION   OF   BEMIS  MONUMENT. 


The  inception  ot  the  Bemis  monument  dates  back  to  1895. 
On  Sept.  30  of  that  year  the  author  wrote  the  following  article, 
which  was  printed  in  The  Spencer  Leader  : 

A  Monument  to  Samuel  Bemis. 

"Nathaniel  Wood  is  the  historical  first  white  settler  in  Spen- 
cer. For  aught  we  know  he  may  have  been  'some  village  Hamp- 
den.' No  one  living  knoweth.  He  appeared  on  the  stage  for  a 
brief  season  and  then  vanished  from  the  records  of  man. 

"  Not  so  the  second  settlers,  Samuel  Bemis  and  wife.  They 
were  typical  New  England  pioneers.  With  means,  ability  and 
industry  they  came  to  subdue  the  wilderness  and  build  for  future 
generations.     They  came  and  settled  as  Draper  fitly  quotes  : 

'  Where  nothing  dwelt  but  beast  of  prey 
Or  men  as  fierce  and  wild  as  they.' 

"They  lived  to  complete  their  task  and  did  the  work  well. 
Because  of  this  they  deserve  to  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance. 
He  and  his  descendants  have  helped  not  only  to  make  Spencer  but 
to  make  New  England  what  it  has  been  and  is.  Let  us  then  erect 
to  them  a  suitable  memorial  stone. 

"  Some  huge  uncut  bowlder  from  the  quarry  will  be  in  keep- 
ing with  the  theme.  On  this  let  there  be  placed  a  bronze  tablet 
recounting  their  virtues.  If  descendants  like  Capt.  Edmond  Bemis 
have  added  glory  to  the  family  name,  let  their  deeds  also  be 
inscribed  thereon.  Erect  the  stone  under  the  ancient  elm  across 
the  road  from  the  original  log  cabin  and  later  on  first  framed  house 
in  town.  Let  the  Bemis  family  lead  off  in  this  movement,  invit- 
ing citizens  to  follow.  Let  them  arrange  for  a  big  family  gather- 
ing next  June.  Let  us  have  a  public  holiday,  a  good  dinner  and 
speeches." 

Board  of  Trade  Appoints  Committee. 

This  article  excited  favorable  comment,  but  nothing  more  was 
done  looking  toward  the  consummation  of  the  idea  until  March  30, 
1901,  when  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  Mr.  William  J. 
Heffernan  moved  that  a  committee  consisting  of  John  G.  Avery, 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


31 


Dr.  E.  W.  Norwood,  Dr.  Alonzo  A.  Bemis,  Henry  M.  Tower, 
Amasa  T.  Bemis,  E.  Harris  Howland  and  Henry  Bemis,  be 
appointed  to  raise  money  and  erect  a  suitable  memorial  stone  and 
tablet  to  the  memory  of  Samuel  Bemis  and  to  make  all  arrange- 
ments necessary  to  carry  that  purpose  into  effect.  The  motion 
prevailed  and  later  the  committee  organized,  by  choice  of  John  G. 
Avery  as  chairman  and  treasurer,  and  Henry  M.  Tower,  secre- 
tary. The  work  of  raising  the  money  then  commenced,  and 
was  solicited  only  from  those  bearing  the  Bemis  name,  or  from 
descendants  of  Samuel  Bemis.  The  committee  were  gratified  at 
the  readiness  with  which  those  approached  subscribed  to  the  fund, 
and  in  a  few  months'  time  money  enough  had  been  promised  to 
guarantee  the  success  of  the  undertaking  and  the  monument  and 
tablet  were  then  ordered. 


JOHN  G.  AVERY. 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trade  Committee. 

In  the  meantime  the  committee  had  by  vote  invited  Nellie 
Thayer  Bemis  to  write  a  poem  to  be  read  at  the  dedicatory  exer- 
cises and  also  Henry  M.  Tower  to  write  the  historical  address, 
which  invitations  were  accepted  and  the  papers  submitted  by  them 
now  follow  : 


32 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Our  Ancestors. 

Written  and  Illustrated  by  Nellie  Thayer  Bemis. 


Where  to-day  ye  stand,  once  the  primeval  forest  stood; 

Its  mighty  arms  outspread,  aloft  in  giant  hardihood. 

Beneath  its  leafy  canopies,  along  its  shadowy  aisles, 

Silent  and  swift  the  dusky  red  man's  wiles 

Trapped  the  fierce  and  hungry  beasts  of  prey, 

Or  gliding  softly  in  birch  canoe  he  fished  the  winding  river's  way. 


"A  RUDE  LOG  CABIN  ROSE.-' 

All  was  silence  :  except  as  Nature's  voices  now  and  then  awoke 

The  lonely  echoes  of  the  wooded  hills;  or  broke 

The  brooding  silence  of  the  place  and  hour 

The  great  sun,  as  it  rose  at  morn  in  majesty  and  power, 

The  only  timepiece    No  bells  as  now  pealed  out  the  da\  s,  the  months,  the  years, 

The  hours  of  man's  hopes,  his  joys,  his  fears. 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


33 


The  muttering  thunders  rolled,   the  vivid  lightnings  flashed, 

The  mighty  trees  did  rock  and  sway,  their  branches  clashed; 

Only  the  Great  Spirit,   the  Indian  braves,  and  beasts  of  prey 

The  wood  birds,  and  the  listening  flowers  held  sway. 

Such  was  the  fertile  land  now  so  changed;  of  ours 

Long,  long  before  our  ancestors  had  felled  the  forest  towers. 


•'THE  STEALTHY  INDIAN  GAZED,   WITH  WONDERING   EVES  AFLAME 

But,  one  ne'er  to  be  forgotten  day  the  pale  face  came. 

The  stealthy  Indian  gazed,  with  wondering  eyes  aflame 

As  the  resounding  axe  in  mighty  blows  arose  and  fell, 

Dealing  destruction  to  his  silent  friends  that  he  had  loved  so  well. 

Proudly  had  they  towered,  and  proudly  did  they  fall  ; 

Dismembered,  split,  and  hewn  by  one,  a  stranger  to  them  all. 

Soon  in  the  little  clearing  a  rude  log  cabin  rose; 

Around  its  ample  hearthstone  the  red  men  (friendly  foes) 

Sat  in  silence  grim  and  stern,  or  ate  the  Indian  pone 

With  the  pale  face  at  his  humble  board,  so  fearless,  and  alone. 

In  time,   the   good  wife  and  the  little  ones  came  through  the  wilderness 

To  fill  the  home  with  love  and  joy,  the  future  years  to  bless. 


34  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Think  ve  those  times  were  peaceful  ?  That  then  were  days  of  ease  ? 

Ah  no  !  the  wild  heast  and  the  Indian  lurked  darkly  mid  the  trees. 

The  red  man's  heart  was  filled  with  hate    for  ihe   usurpers   of  his    land, 

And  only  the  food  and  shelter  given  stayed  the  arrow  in  his  hand. 

As  our  earlv  settler  cleared  the  ground,  and  tilled  the  fertile  soil, 

The  trusty  firelock  at  his  side  the  enemy  to  foil. 

His  heart  was  filled  with  anxious  care  for  the  loved  ones  in  the  home, 

For  the  good  wife,  and  the  children  left  so  helpless  and  alone. 

Honor  to  her  so  brave  and  true  who  traversed  the  forest  wilds, 

With  the  young  babe  nestled  in  her  arms  for  half  a  hundred  miles; 

From  fear  of  stealthy  red  men,  and  wandering  beasts  of  prey 

She  had  sought  her  father's  dwelling,  nearh  fifty  miles  away. 

And  through  the  trackless  forest,  with   the  babe  scarce  two  weeks  oldr 

She  came  alone,  unaided,  save  by  the  great  trees  told. 

Such  deeds  of  love,  and  daring,  did  our  early  forbears  show, 

The  grand  old  Pilgrim  spirit  did  make  their  souls  aglow, 

To  open  the  wondrous  western  land  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  trod. 

And  spread  their  motto  far  and  wide,  "Freedom  to  worship  God." 

Ye  do  well  to  give  them  honor,  in  monument  and  name, 

But  ye  may  honor  them  far  better  by   lives  free  from  spot  or  blame. 

From  the  lives  they  gave  for  us,  take  the  grandest  and  the  best; 

Rear  a  bethel  in  your  hearts,  'tis  better  than  all  the  rest. 

May  their  courage,  and  the  spirit  of  our  Father's  God  be  given 

To  the  children  of  the  present  time,  and  unto  children's  children. 


HISTORICAL  ADDRESS 

On  Samuel  Bemis,  with  Short  Sketches  of  His  Ancestry  and  Poster- 
ity, Delivered  in  the  Town  Hall,  Spencer,  Mass.,  Oct.  29, 1901. 


Descendants  of  Samuel  Bemis,  Citizens  of  Spencer  and  Friends  : 

We  have  met  to-day  for  a  purpose  unlike  that  of  any  pre- 
vious gathering,  to  honor  Samuel  Bemis,  the  man  who  founded 
the  town  of  Spencer  and  who  was  active  in  its  development.  Other 
days  may  come  in  which  the  names  of  distinguished  benefactors  of 
the  town  shall  be  publicly  honored,  but  among  them  all  this  day 
will  ever  have  an  individuality  all  its  own.  There  is  but  one 
second  settler  known  to  our  history  and  this  person  is  the  one 
we  honor  to-day.  No  other  man  can  again  accomplish  the  work 
he  did  so  well,  or  occupy  his  place  in  the  annals  of  our  town. 

Daniel  Webster   on  Ancestry. 

On  a  somewhat  similar  occasion,  Daniel  Webster  said,  "  It 
is  a  noble  faculty  of  our  nature  which  enables  us  to  connect  our 
thoughts,  our  sympathies,  and  our  happiness,  with  what  is  dis- 
tant, in  place  or  time;  and,  looking  before  and  after,  to  hold  com- 
munion at  once  with  our  ancestors  and  our  posterity.  Neither 
the  point  of  time,  nor  the  spot  of  earth,  in  which  we  physically 
live,  bounds  our  rational  and  intellectual  enjoyments.  We  live  in 
the  past  by  a  knowledge  of  its  history,  and  in  the  future  by  hope 
and  anticipation.  By  ascending  to  an  association  with  our  ances- 
tors; by  contemplating  their  example  and  studying  their  charac- 
ter; by  partaking  their  sentiments  and  imbibing  their  spirit;  by 
accompanying  them  in  their  toils,  by  sympathizing  in  their  suffer- 
ings, and  rejoicing  in  their  successes  and  their  triumphs,  we  seem 
to  belong  to  their  age,  and  to  mingle  our  own  existence  with 
theirs.  We  become  their  contemporaries,  live  the  lives  which  they 
lived,  endure  what  they  endured,  and  partake  in  the  rewards 
which  they  enjoyed.  There  may  be,  and  there  often  is,  indeed, 
a  regard  for  ancestry,  which  nourishes  only  a  weak  pride.  But 
there  is  also  a  moral  and  philosophical  respect  for  our  ancestors, 
which  elevates  the  character  and  improves  the  heart." 

It  is  with  this  latter  view  in  mind  that  a  monument  to  Samuel 
Bemis  has  been  erected,  and  this  sketch  of  his  life  undertaken. 

Memorial  stones  for  worthy  purposes  have  a  value  as  ob- 
ject lessons  which  perhaps  has  never  been  more  forcibly  expressed 


36 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


than  in  a  speech  by  Edward  Everett  on  the  "Worth  of  the  Bunker 
Hil!  Monument." 

Edward  Everett  on  the  Value  of  Memorial  Stones. 

He  said  :  "  But  I  am  met  with  the  great  objection,  what 
good  will  the  monument  do?  And  I  ask  what  good  does  anything 
do?  What  is  good?  Does  anything  do  any  good?  Does  a  rail- 
road do  good  ?     Yes.      It  facilitates  commerce,  opens  markets  and 


JOSHUA  bemis. 

Bom  in  Spencer.   July  31,    1822,    and   now   living;  a  great   grandson   of 

Samuel     Bemis,     Senior;     farmer,     road    builder,     contractor     and 

saw   mill  owner;     was   one   of  the   selectmen  comprising  the 

famous    "  War   Board"     during    the    Rebellion.     (From  a 

photograph   by    l,ouis    N.   Hevy.) 

increases  wealth.  But  what  is  this  good  for?  Why,  individuals 
prosper  and  get  rich.  And  what  good  does  that  do?  Is  mere 
wealth  as  an  ultimate  end,  good?  Certainly  not.  But  as  men 
grow  rich  they  live  better.  Is  there  any  good  in  this,  stopping 
here?  Is  mere  animal  life,  feeding,  working  and  sleeping  like  an 
ox  entitled  to  be  called  good  ?  Certainly  not.  But  these  im- 
provements increase  the  population  ?  And  what  good  does  that 
do?     Where  is  the  good   in  counting   twelve    millions  instead  of 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


37 


six  of  mere  feeding,  working,  sleeping  animals?  There  is  then 
no  good  in  the  mere  animal  life  except  that  it  is  the  physical  basis 
of  that  higher  moral  existence  which  resides  in  the  soul,  the  heart, 
the  mind,  the  conscience.  In  good  principles,  good  feelings  and 
the  good  actions  that  flow  from  them.  Now  I  say  that  generous 
and  patriotic  sentiments  are  good,  good  humanly  speaking,  of  the 
highest  order.  It  is  good  to  have  them,  good  to  encourage  them, 
good  to  honor  them,  good  to  commemorate  them  and  whatever 
tends  to  animate   and  strengthen   such   feelings  dees   right  down 


MOSES  bemis 
Born  in  Spencer,  June  30,  1S22,  now  living  at  Worcester,  son  of  Nathan- 
iel Bemis,  Jr..  and  great  grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis,  Sr.     He  was 
for  a  great  many  years  Supt.  of  Bridge  Construction 
for  the  Providence  and  Worcester  R   R.  Co. 

practical  good,  and  gives  a  value  to  everything  which  through  the 
channel  of  the  senses,  the  taste  or  the  imagination,  warms  and 
elevates  the  heart." 

Samuel  Bemis  a  Type  of  the  New  England  Pioneer. 

We  are  not  looking  to  find  in  the  life  of  Samuel  Bemis  the 
character  of  a  great  statesman  who  by  his  genius  moulded  empires, 
or  a  great  warrior  who  by  his  valor  subdued  kingdoms,  but  a  man 
who  in  his  own  field  of  action,  in  his  own  way  and  in  his  own 
time  wrought   out   successfully   the  work   of  an  intelligent  New 


38 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


England  pioneer.  But  he  was  not  alone  in  this  work,  for  a  mul- 
titude of  co-laborers  throughout  New  England  were  daily  pursu- 
ing the  same  avocation,  quietly,  thoroughly,  persistently,  perhaps 
unconsciously,  laying  the  foundation,  broad  and  secure,  for  that 
system  of  government  and  education  that  has  become  the  admira- 
tion of  the  world,  and  has  given  to  New  England  ideas  and  char- 
acter a  prestige  unparalleled   in  history,  and  never  greater  than  it 


GEORGE  BEMIS. 

Farmer,   of  South   Spencer,    son  of    Nathaniel    Bemis,   Jr..    and  great 

grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis,  Si\,  born  in  Spencer, 

Feb.  9,  181S.     Now  Eiving. 

is  to-day.  In  Samuel  Bemis  we  find  the  type  of  men  that  made 
possible  the  civilization  we  enjoy,  and  considering  the  number,  the 
general  character  and  patriotism  of  his  descendants,  it  will  be  dif- 
ficult to  match  the  record  of  this  family  by  a  most  diligent  search 
among  our  archives. 

The  Bemis  Family  an  Ancient  One. 

The  vSpencer  branch  of  the  Bemis  family  traces  its  ancestry 
to  John  Bemis,   who  was  born  in  Dedham,   Essex  County,  Eng- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  39 


land,  as  early  as  1550.      His   will   was   proved  June  28,  1604,  and 
reads  as  follows  : 

To  my  dutiful  wife  Anne,  fifty  pounds.  To  Isaac,  my  son, 
one  hundred  pounds.  To  Luke  and  James,  my  sons,  one  hundred 
and  forty  pounds  each.  To  my  daughter  Susan  fifty  and  six 
pounds.  To  my  youngest  sons,  Joseph  and  Abraham,  to  either  of 
them  fifty  pounds  when  they  or  either  of  them  shall  accomplish  the 
full  age  of  one  and  twenty  years  To  my  daughter  Grymwood  and 
to  her  four  children  now  living,  to  every  one  of  them  twenty  shill- 
ings apiece.  To  Richard  Smeeth  of  Bretneham,  Suffolk,  twenty 
shillings.  To  the  poor  of  the  same  parish  forty  shillings.  To  my 
brother  Thomas  Bemis,  five  pounds,  and  to  every  one  of  his  children 
twenty  shillings  apiece  To  the  poor  of  Dedham  forty  shillings. 
All  the  rest  of  my  goods  unbequeathed  shall  be  distributed  equally 
between  my  wife  and  two  daughters  Susan  and  Mary.  —  A'.  E. 
Hist,  and  Genea.  Register. 

The  children  of  John  and  Anne  Bemis,  all  born  in  England, 
were: — Isaac,  Luke,  Mary,  James,  Susan,  Joseph  and  Abraham. 

Joseph,  son  of  John,  married,  lived  and  died  in  England. 
He  had  a  son,  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  England  in  1619,  and 
who  came  to  this  country  and  settled  at  Watertown  in  1640. — 
NewhalT s  Record  of  my  Ancestry. 

Joseph  Bemis,  Grandfather  of  Samuel. 

Joseph  Bemis,  the  grandfather  of  Samuel,  in  1640,  when  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  emigrated  from  England  and  settled 
at  Watertown.  He  was  both  a  blacksmith  and  a  farmer.  Water- 
town  at  that  time  was  a  place  of  importance,  and  many  men  of 
wealth  and  distinction  resided  there.  It  was  the  fifth  town  in  the 
state  to  be  settled  and  was  preceded  only  by  Plymouth,  Salem, 
Charlestown  and  Dorchester.  Joseph  Bemis  appears  to  have  been 
a  man  of  good  ability.  He  was  chosen  selectman  lor  the  years 
1672  and  1675,  and  at  other  times  filled  the  offices  of  constable, 
collector,  school  committee  and  "haward."  He  served  on  various 
town  committees,  two  records  of  which  are  herewith  reproduced, 
and  these  show  in  a  marked  degree  the  peculiarities  of  spelling  and 
expression  common  to  that  time:     At   a   town    meeting  in    1671, 

The  towne  being  desirous  to  ishshu  thear  diffarance  abought 
stinting  thear  feeding  land  and  the  walkes  of  thear  heardes  have 
choosen  7  men  from  amongst  them  fellues  to  agre  abought  that 
mattur  and  if  thay  canot  agre  to  the  satisfacktion  of  the  towne  then 
thay  heave  chosen  thre  other  ought  of  towne  altogether  unconsarned 
in  that  businis  whoe  shall  heave  full  power  to  detarmin  the  seame 
and  all  refarance  to  prevent  a  sute  now  depending  in  Charlestown 
Corte.  The  parsons  chosen  from  amongst  them  fellues  eare  Captin 
mason,  Leftenant  beares,  decon  hastings,  Ensigne  shearman,  cor- 
parale  bond,  Joseph  bemas,  and  John  Randall;  these  not  agreeing  to 


4o 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


the  satisfaction  of  the  towne  Captin  thomas,  prentis  Cornet,  edward 
okes,  deacon  John  Jackson  eare  chosen  to  heare  and  detarmin  the 
seatne  before  the  25  day  of  March  next. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  selectmen  at  Simon  Stone's  house,  Nov. 
10.  1674, 

Thomas  fleg,  John  whitney  and  Joseph  bemus  gave  in  an  account 
of  what  thav  had  found  consarning  children's  edducation  and 
John  fisk  being  found  wholy  negligent  of  edducating  his  children 
as  to  Reding  or  catticising  the  seleckt  men  agreed  that  Joseph 
bemus  should  warn  him  in  to  ansur  for  his  neglect  at  the  next  meet- 
ing of  the  seleckt  men 

In  1649  Joseph  Bemis  was  fined  three   pounds   by   the  select- 
men  for  cutting  twelve  trees   upon    the  common  but  of  this  fine 


PERSIS  GUILFORD, 

Born  in  Spencer,  Aug.  16,  1822,  daughter  of  Dr.  Jonas  Guilford,  Jr  ,  and 
his  wife,  Persis  Bemis,  daughter  of  Joshua  Bemis,  Jr.     She  married 
Asa  T.  Jones,   April  27,   1845,   and  was  the  mother  of  Asa 
T.  Jones,   now  of  Colorado  Springs,    Colorado. 

the  town  subsequently  remitted  fifty  shillings.  In  1655  he  was 
fined  for  having  "  1  Hog  disorderly,"  otherwise  he  appears  to 
have  been  at  all  times  a  law  observing  and  abiding  citizen. 

The  records  show  that  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow-citizens  and  was  active  in  promoting  the  material 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  4  I 


interests  of  the  town.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  the  last 
of  whom,  John,  born  in  1657,  became  the  father  of  Samuel,  the 
hero  of  our  sketch.  Joseph  Bemis  died  in  1684  and  his  estate 
inventoried  more  than  a  thousand  dollars,  which  was  quite  a  large 
sum  of  money  for  those  days. 

John  Bemis,  Father  of  Samuel. 

John,  the  ninth  child  of  Joseph,  was  a  farmer.  He  married 
Mary  Harrington  in  1680  and  lived  at  Watertown.  So  far  as  his 
relation  to  town  affairs  and  general  usefulness  are  known,  he 
appears  to  have  maintained  the  same  relative  standing  in  the  com- 
munity achieved  by  his  father  and  belonged  to  what  is  usually 
called  the  well-to-do  middle  class.  He  was  at  different  times  cor- 
poral, selectman,  tithingman,  school  committee,  "Sarvayar  of 
Rhods,"  besides  rendering  service  on  special  town  committees. 
At  a  town  meeting  held  in  1705  it  was  voted  "that  the  town  doe 
nominate,  appoint  and  Impower  John  Bemus,  Sr.,  John  Hastings, 
Sr. ,  and  Daniel  Harrington,  Sr.,  to  locke  ought  sum  convenient 
place  to  keep  the  gramer  schoole  for  the  second  quarter  nun 
where  neere  where  it  was  kept  for  the  middle  of  the  town  last." 
In  1707  it  was  ordered  at  a  town  meeting  "that  Netl  Bright  and 
murings  Sawin  take  Present  caer  of  one  Sarah  Honey  for  her 
entertainment  and  also  to  Desire  Doct.  Palsgrave  Wellington  to 
locke  after  her  wounds,  and  John  Bemis  was  ordered  to  forthwith 
make  inquiry  how  long  she  had  been  in  town  and  report  at  next 
meeting." 

John  Bemis  was  the  father  of  fourteen  children  and  lived  to 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Samuel,  the  sixth  child,  was  born 
in  1690.  At  the  age  of  twenty-six  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
John  Barnard  of  Sudbury,  by  whom  he  had  two  children,  Samuel 
Jr.  and  Edmund  while  living  at  Watertown. 

Tide  of  Emigration  Sets  Inland. 

At  this  time  (1721),  there  was  a  strong  movement  going  for- 
ward to  settle  towns  in  the  interior.  A  hundred  years  had  passed 
since  the  Pilgrims  landed.  The  coast  towns  were  prosperous, 
but  as  farming  was  the  principal  avocation,  it  was  foreseen  by  the 
leading  men  of  the  time  that  congested  settlements  were  not  for 
the  best  interests  of  the  people  and  hence  they  took  precautionary 
measures  to  prevent  such  a  state  of  affairs,  as  we  learn  from 
Bond's  History  of  Watertown.  He  says,  "The  population  became 
so  crowded  that  the  people  very  early  began  to  disperse  either  to 
form  new  plantations  or  to  go  to  other  towns  already  settled,"  and 
adds  "Watertown  has  been  a  prolific  hive,  sending  out  swarms 
almost  innumerable."  Because  the  population  was  already  over- 
crowded the  freemen  at  an   earlier  date  agreed  "in  consideration 


42 


SKETCHES   OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


there  be  too  many  inhabitants  in  the  town  and  the  town  thereby 
in  danger  to  be  ruinated,  that  no  forrainer  coming  into  town  or 
any  family  arising  among  ourselves  shall  have  any  benefit  of  com- 
monage or  land  undivided  but  what  they  shall  purchase."  These 
conditions  although  reasonable  in  themselves  must  have  been 
obnoxious  to  the  spirited  young,  and  native  born  Americans,  and 
no  doubt  many  of  them  were  ready  when  the  opportune  time  came 
to  launch  out  and  settle  in  the  freedom  of  the  unbroken  forests 
where  men  of  wealth  from  Boston  and  other  places  had  purchased  of 


persis  BEMIS, 

Daughter    of   Joshua  Bemis,    Junior,  and  great   granddaughter  of  Samuel 

Bemis,  Senior.    Born  in  Spencer,   Sept.   22,   1795,    married  Dr.  Jonas 

Guilford,  Junior,  June  20,  1816.    Mother  of  Mrs.  John  G. 

Avery   and   Miss  P.  Maria  Guilford. 

the  Indians  large  tracts  of  land  at  a  nominal  price,  and  were 
offering  great  inducements  to  those  who  would  become  actual 
settlers.  The  land  comprising  what  is  now  Leicester  and  Spencer 
had  been  purchased  for  about  two  cents  per  acre.  King  Philip 
had  been  killed,  his  body  quartered  and  his  head  placed  on  a  gib- 
bet at  Plymouth  forty-five  years  before,  and  he  appeared  to  have 
no  successor.  It  was  thought  there  was  safety  for  white  men 
to  venture  again  into  the  interior,  take  up  the  work  of  the 
husbandman  and  build  themselves  homes  wherein  they  could  dwell 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


43 


in  safety  and  contentment.  The  towns  of  Lancaster,  Worcester, 
Oxford,  Brook  field,  Rutland  and  other  places  that  had  been  laid 
waste  during  the  Indian  Wars  or  else  had  been  partially  or 
wholly  abandoned  were  being  rapidly  re-peopled  by  settlers  from 
the  coast  towns.  The  wars  of  King  William  and  Queen  Anne 
had  ended  and  emigrants  from  the  British  Isles  were  coining  to 
the  land  of  freedom. 

Samuel  Bemis  Decides  to  Emigrate  to  Leicester. 

It  was  under  such  circumstances  that  Samuel  Bemis  was 
moved  to  try  his  fortunes  as  a  pioneer  and  on  the  20th  of  July, 
1 72 1,  we  find  him  getting  a  deed  to  a  tract  of  land  in  the  then 
primeval  forest  located  in  what   is  now  the  town  of  Spencer,  and 


FRAGMENT  OF  SOAPSTOXE   KETTLE  FOUND  BY  HARVEY  PROl'TY. 

where  he  purposed  establishing  his  home.  It  may  be  that  his 
action  was  influenced  to  some  degree  by  the  small  pox  epidemic 
then  raging  in  Boston,  over  eight  hundred  persons  dying  there  of 
that  dread  disease  this  same  year. 

Four  years  before,  Nathaniel  Wood  of  Ipswich,  the  first  set- 
tler, had  purchased  one  hundred  acres  but  a  short  distance  to  the 
west  and  adjoining  the  Brookfield  line;  otherwise,  so  far  as  known, 
there  were  no  white  inhabitants  nearer  than  Leicester  or  Brook- 
field,  both  seven  miles  distant,  although  some  think  there  were 
a  few    settlers   living   at  what    is    now    East    Brookfield,    which 


44 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


presumption  a  careful  search  of  the  records  might  establish.  Indi- 
ans there  were  at  Quaboag  in  Brookfield,  their  winter  head- 
quarters about  three  miles  by  the  Seven  Mile  river  trail.  In  sum- 
mer their  wigwams  were  to  be  found  scattered  along  the  streams 
or  other  places  that  afforded  good  locations  for  hunting,  fishing 
or  planting.  On  the  farm  now  owned  by  Dr.  Alonzo  A.  Bemis 
was  a  sheltered  spot  which  seems  to  have  been  an  annual  camping 
ground,  from  the  large  number  of  stone  implements  formerly 
found  there. 

Indian  Relics. 

Another  place  was  a  short  distance  northeasterly  of  District 
No.  4  school  house,  on  a  knoll  in  what  is  now  mowing  land. 
This  location  may  have  been  chosen  partly  from  its  close  proxim- 
ity to  the  fine  spring  of  water,  whose  crystal  stream  flows  out  into 
the  roadside  just  south  of  the  school  house.  Another  location  was 
on  land  now  owned  by  Henry  T.  Faure,  and  northeast  of  his 
house.  It  was  here  that  the  late  Harvey  Prouty  found  the  broken 
parts  of  a  soapstone  kettle  which  were  joined  together  by  Dr.  C. 
P.  Barton,  and  are  now  in  the  public  museum.  This  kettle  may 
have  been  made  at  Sutton  where  the  Indians  used  to  obtain 
steatite  for  such  purposes. 

—  Mr.    Prouty    also    found    a    large 

number  of  stone  implements  near  the 
same  place.  There  also  may  have 
been  an  Indian  encampment  on  a 
knoll  of  land  some  twenty  rods  or  more 
easterly  of  the  Lewis  Hill  house.  It 
was  here  that  the  late  Amos  Snow 
found  an  excellent  stone  pestle  an  d 
axe  which  were  contributed  to  the 
museum  by  his  son  Edgar  H.  Snow. 

Wigwam  Sites. 

Two  authentic  sites  of  wigwams 
are  now  to  be  seen  on  the  farm  of 
Alonzo  W.  Green  in  the  southeast  part 
of  the  town.  Another  locality  which 
appears  to  have  been  long  inhabited, 
judging  from  the  large  number  of  stone 
implements  formerly  found  there,  was 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  southeasterly 
of  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Howe.  Ac- 
cording to  the  testimony  of  Joel  Howe, 
Sr.,  the  Indians  had  a  dugout  or  barn, 
as  they  were  anciently  called,  for  stor- 
indian  pestle  and  axe.  }ng  winter  provisions  at  some  point 
between  the  house  of  the  late  Hiram  Howe  and  the  house  of  John  M . 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


45 


Newton,  but  its  location  has  not  been  preserved.  It  is  thought 
this  dugout  was  used  for  storing  chestnuts  which  used  to  grow 
abundantly  in  that  locality  and  which  boiled  or  baked  made  a  very 
nutritious  article  of  food.  One  ancient  chestnut  tree  that  the 
Indians  doubtless  gathered  nuts  under  is  still  standing  nearby,  and 
with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  elms,  has  the  largest  girth  of 
any  tree  in  Spencer  and  a  diameter  of  about  seven  feet.  There  were 
doubtless  a  great  many  other  places  in  town  known  to  the  early  set- 
tlers where   the    Indians   had   encampments,  no   record  of  which 


JOEL    HOWE, 

A  Spencer  farmer,  born  Jan   31,  1819,  and  now  living,  a  great  grandson 
of   Samuel   Bemis.   Senior.     He    is    a    son  of   Joel   Howe,    a   sol- 
dier of  the  Revolution.       His    mother  was    Esther     Bemis, 
daughter  of  Joshua  Bemis,  Senior.     (From  a  photograph 
taken  in  1900  by   Parssiello  Emerson.) 

remains,  and  since  there  is  hardly  a  farm  in  town  on  which  at  some 
period  in  its  history  Indian  implements  have  not  been  found,  the 
conclusion  is  irresistible  that  the  Red  men  occupied  this  section  to 
a  greater  extent  than  has  generally  been  supposed  and  although 
reduced  in  numbers  by  the  Indian  Wars,  were  pursuing  their  gen- 
eral course  of  life  on  the  advent  of  Samuel  Bemis  into  their  an- 
cient territory. 


46  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Samuel  Bemis  Purchases  Land  on  Which  to  Settle. 

We  left  Samuel  Bemis  in  Boston  getting  a  deed  to  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Leicester  from  a  committee  specially  author- 
ized by  the  Great  and  General  Assembly  to  sell  the  same  and  which 
they  were  willing  to  do  in  consideration  of  "  ye  just  sum  of  eleven 
pounds  ten  shillings  well  and  truly  paid,"  or  a  price  nine  hundred 
per  cent  in  advance  of  the  sum  paid  the  Indians  thirty-four  years 
before.  The  farm  was  bounded  "  southerly  on  land  of  ye  town  of 
Oxford,  and  westerly  on  Benjamin  Thompson's  land."  Besides, 
the  farm  he  was  deeded  "all  ye  wood,  timber,  well  water,  and 
water  courses  on  ye  same."  The  property  became  his  in  the  mid- 
summer of  172 1.  James  Draper  says  he  commenced  felling  the 
ancient  forest  in  1720.  This  may  be  true  but  if  the  date  was  set 
forward  a  year  it  would  appear  more  consistent  with  the  records 
as  we  to-day  find  them.  It  would  seem  probable  that  in  the  spring 
of  172 1  he  took  a  trip  to  the  westward  to  spy  out  the  land.  He 
reached  the  Seven  Mile  river.  Here  he  found  one  of  the  first 
requisites  to  the  pioneer,  plenty  of  clear  running  water.  The  next 
essential  was  meadow  land,  and  but  a  short  distance  up  the  stream 
he  found  the  great  meadows  cne-fourth  of  a  mile  wide  and  a  mile 
long.  Surely  here  was  a  plentiful  supply  for  his  horses,  sheep 
and  cattle.  He  discovered  but  a  short  distance  to  the  west  a  level 
spot  of  ground  suitable  for  his  buildings,  and  high  above  any  pos- 
sible damage  by  the  spring  freshets.  Timber  also  he  saw  in  abund- 
ance ready  for  immediate  use.  He  found  a  settler  but  a  short  dis- 
tance towards  Brookneld.  He  noticed  that  the  place  was  on  the 
main  line  of  travel  from  Boston  to  Springfield.  He  is  pleased  with 
the  general  advantages  of  the  situation,  and  finding  out  who  the 
owners  of  this  property  were,  returned  to  Watertown,  talked  it 
over  with  his  wife  and  friends  and  proceeded  to  purchase  it. 

On  the  Trail  for  Leicester. 

Then  with  his  horses  and  dog,  his  rifle  and  axe,  and  such 
other  articles  as  he  needs,  he  returns  to  build  a  log  cabin,  make  a 
small  clearing,  all  in  readiness  for  the  coming  seed  time  and 
returned  late  in  the  fall  to  his  home.  The  winter  being  past,  with 
his  wife,  his  two  boys,  his  horses,  cattle,  dogs  and  such  arti- 
cles for  domestic  and  farm  use  as  were  indispensible,  he  starts 
for  his  home  in  the  wilderness  and  is  all  ready  to  take  up  the 
spring  work.  Now  this  may  not  have  been  what  happened,  but 
it  is  the  most  natural  and  consistent  course  he  could  have  taken, 
and  judging  from  all  the  facts  we  have  at  hand,  this  plan  in  its 
general  features  is  most  probable. 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  47 


Copy  of  Original  Deed  to  Samuel  Bemis. 

To  all  Christian  people  unto  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
Greeting:  William  Dudley  of  Roxbury,  in  ye  County  of  Suffolk 
and  Province  of  ye  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England,  Esquire; 
Thomas  Tileton  of  Dorchester  and  County  aforesaid,  Gentlemen; 
Thomas  How  of  Molbrough  and  County  of  Middlesex  and  province 
aforesaid,  Esquire;  a  committee  fully  authorized  and  improved  by 
the  Great  and  General  Assembly  of  ye  province  aforesaid  in  their 
session  held  the  1  ith  of  Nov.,  17 19,  to  sell  and  dispose  of  a  certain 
tractor  parcell  of  land  lying  and  being  in  ye  said  Province  between 
the  towns  of  Oxford  in  ye  County  of  Suffolk,  Leicester  in  ve  County 
of  Middlesex,  Brook  field  in  ye  County  of  Hampshire,  which  said 
tract  or  parcell  of  land  is  since  by  ye  Great  and  General  Court 
added  unto  and  determined  to  be  part  of  said  County  of  Suffolk; 
viz  :  In  ye  session  held  at  Cambridge  in  June,  1721,  as  by  both  votes 
and  orders.  Reference  thereto  had  may  and  doth  more  fullv  appear. 
Know  ye  that  ye  said  William  Dudley,  Thomas  Tileton  and  Thomas 
How,  for  and  in  Consideration  of  ye  full  and  just  sum  of  Eleven 
pounds,  ten  shillings,  well  and  truly  paid  by  Samuel  Bemis  of  Wa- 
tertown,  in  ye  County  of  Middlesex  aforesaid,  Yeoman,  ve  Receipt 
whereof  Dudley,  Tileton,  How,  do  hereby  acknowledge,  and  ve 
said  Samuel  Bemis,  his  heirs,  Executors  and  Administrators  thereof 
and  of  even-  part  and  parcel  thereof  have  acquitted,  exonerated  and 
discharged,  have  given,  granted,  sold,  aliened  and  by  virtue  of  ve 
power  and  authority  aforesaid  do  give,  grant,  sell,  alien,  make  over 
and  confirm  unto  ye  said  Samuel  Hemis,  his  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever, one  Certain  Lott  or  tract  of  Land  laid  out  in  ye  said  10,000 
acres,  being  ye  36th  Lott  in  number  and  ributted  and  bounded  north- 
erly on  Land  of  John  Flagg,  Easterly  on  Samuel  Dinner's  Land, 
Southerly  on  land  of  ye  town  of  Oxford,  and  Westerly  on  Benj. 
Thompson  Land  or  however  ye  same  is  butted  and  bounded,  con- 
taining three  hundred  acres  more  or  less  To  Have  and  to  Hold  ve 
said  Lott  of  Land  unto  him  ye  said  Samuel  Bemis  with  all  ve  Rights, 
members  priviledges  and  appurtenances  to  ye  same  in  any  manner 
belonging,  and  all  ye  wood,  timber,  well  water  and  water  courses  in 
and  on  ye  same,  free  and  Clear  from  all  manner  of  Incumbrances 
and  Inconveniences  whatever  and  the  said  William  Dudley,  Thomas 
Tileton  and  Thomas  How  as  a  Committee  and  Impowered  as  afore- 
said, and  on  behalf  of  the  Province  aforesaid,  do  avouch 
themselves  to  be  the  true  and  lawful  owners  of  ve  above  granted 
premises  and  have  in  themselves  sufficient  power  and  author- 
it}-  to  dispose  and  sell  ye  same  and  by  virtue  and  force  of  ve  afore- 
mentioned acts  of  ye  Great  and  General  Court  ye  premises  and 
every  part  thereof  will  to  ye  said  Samuel  Bemis,  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  uphold,  maintain,  warrant  and  defend  from  all  Challenge, 
Claim,  Molestation  or  Trouble  whatever.  In  Testimonv  whereof 
they,  ye  said  Dudley,  Tileton  and  How  have  sett  to  their  hands 
and  seals  this  20th  Day  of  July,  1721,  and  in  ye  seventh  year  of 
King  George's  Reign. 

WILLIAM  DUDLEY  and  a  seal, 
THOMAS  TILETON  and  a  seal, 
THOMAS  HOW  and  a  seal. 
Signed,  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  presence  of 
Isaac  Newhale 

Nathaniel  Holbrook,  Suffolk,  ss. 
Ye  within   mentioned    William    Dudley,    Thomas   Tileton  and 
Thomas  How   now  appearing  before  me,    ye    subscriber,   and   did 


48  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


acknowledge  this  instrument  as  their  act  and  deed.     Roxbury,  ic 
March,  1732. 

ELIJAH  DANFORTH, 

Justice  of  Peace. 
Ye  aforegoing  is  a  true  Copy  of  ye  original  Deed  recorded  Dec, 
1732.     Examined  by 

JOHN  CHANDLER,  JR., 

Register. 

The  price  paid  for  the  land  was  less  than  twenty  cents  per 
acre. 

Samuel  Bemis  in  His  Own  Home. 

Samuel  Bemis  at  the  age  of  33  is  now  located  on  his  own  land 
and  in  his  own  cabin,  with  his  wife  aged  twenty-seven,  Samuel 
aged  three  and  Edmond  aged  one  year.  His  daily  life  is  made  up 
of  one  ceaseless  round  ot  thinking,  planning  and  working  out  the 
problems  that  confront  him.  His  intercourse  with  the  world  is 
small.  The  Wood  family  doubtless  come  to  his  cabin  after  a  day's 
work  is  finished  in  order  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  pioneer  life, 
to  hold  communion  with  kindred  minds  and  to  continue  practice 
in  the  art  of  conversation.  Occasionally  travelers  stop  to  get  a 
midday  meal  or  else  supper,  lodging  and  breakfast.  From  them 
he  gathers  information  from  the  coast  or  from  the  more  remote 
settlements  in  the  interior.  When  the  traveler  proves  to  be 
an  interesting  talker  it  is  a  treat  for  the  household  to  sit  and 
listen  as  he  narrates  his  experiences  or  tells  the  news  he  has 
gathered  on  his  journey  and  ofttimes  it  is  past  midnight,  perhaps, 
before  thought  of  retiring  becomes  definitely  fixed.  The  Indians 
also  call  as  they  follow  their  trail  up  and  down  the  Seven  Mile 
river  that  flows  past  his  door,  and  claim  the  white  man  a  brother 
whose  duty  it  is  to  give  them  food  and  shelter. 

The  Indians  /Make  Themselves  at  Home  in  His  Cabin. 

The  duty  is  not  acknowledged  by  Samuel  Bemis,  at  least  not 
without  mental  reservation,  but  they  are  fed  just  the  same  and 
when  night  comes  roll  themselves  up  in  blankets,  should  the 
weather  be  cold,  and  stretching  at  full  length  on  the  kitchen  floor 
with  their  feet  toward  the  fire,  soon  fall  asleep.  This  arrange- 
ment was  not  agreeable  to  the  host,  but  being  a  man  of  prudence 
and  tact  as  well,  he  outwardly  submits  to  conditions  he  is  power- 
less to  avert,  and  continues  to  entertain  the  red  men  in  his  home, 
to  which  they  have  not  been  invited.  With  such  conditions  as 
these  prevailing,  an  unusual  event  in  the  family  life  of  Samuel 
Bemis  occurred  the  year  following  his  settlement  at  Leicester.  We 
will  let  Draper's  History  tell  the  story:  "  In  1722,  when  his  wife 
was  about  to  give  birth  to  her  third  son,  William,  fearing  the 
Indians,  she   made  a  journey  to  Sudbury   for  safety  during  that 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


49 


critical  period,  and  when  her  little  son  was  onl)T  two  weeks  old, 
she  rode  home  on  horseback,  a  distance  of  nearly  fifty  miles,  in  one 
day  and  carried  the  infant  in  her  arms,  although  for  a  greater  part 
of  the  distance  the  road,  such  as  it  was,  passed  through  an  entire 
wilderness."  It  is  no  wonder  then,  that  a  woman  having  so  great 
powers  of  endurance  as  she  evidently  possessed  should  have  given 
birth  to  a  race  of  stalwart  men  and  women  such  as  we  find  to  have 
'been  the  case.     There  is  one  expression   in  the  above  narrative 


FOSTER  BEMIS, 
Great  grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis,  Sr.,  and  the  last  Bemis  to  till  the  old 
farm   which   had  descended  from  Samuel  Sr.,    Joshua  Sr.,  and 
Amasa  to  Foster,     In  1S55   he  sold   the  farm   and    went 
West.     Born  in  Spencer,  Jan'y   16,    1S0S;  died  at 
Beloit,  Wis.,   Dec.  6.    1881,    "respected  In- 
all  who   knew  him." 

that  will  not  likely  be  sufficiently  clear  to  the  general  reader, 
that  is  "fearing  the  Indians." 

Fears  the  Indians. 


and 


Why  should  she  fear  the  Indians  ?  Let  us  find  out  if  we  can 
the  real  cause.  Years  before  this  time  a  majority  of  the  males 
of  the  different  tribes  ot  Indians  in  New  England  had  either 
been  slain  or  else   had  been    so  completely   subdued   that   they 


5© 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


feared  to  again  make  war  on  the  white  men,  knowing  full 
well  from  the  past  that  swift  retribution  would  follow,  with 
their  lives  as  a  forfeit.  But  there  were  a  few  Indians,  sup- 
posed to  have  been  mostly  old  men,  who  remembering  with 
humiliation  the  victories  of  the  white  men,  and,  defying  their 
power,  still  thirsted  for  revenge,  These,  owning  allegiance  to  no 
tribe,  in  small  bands  roved  at  will  about  the  country  protected  by 
the  forests  which   everywhere   abounded,    and   which  under  cover 


I,EWIS  BEMIS, 

Great  grandson  of  Samuel  Pemis,  Sr.     He  was  a  farmer,  merchant  and 

powder  manufacturer.     Built  in  1841  the  house  where  Abraham 

Capen  now   lives.     Served  the  town   as  representative, 

town  clerk  and  treasurer.    Born  in  Spencer,  Nov. 

5,    1797;  died  in  Spencer,   Nov.   8,   1856. 

of  their  branches  permitted  them  to  approach  their  intended  vic- 
tims unawares.  It  was  doubtless  in  this  way  that  Widow  Mary 
Mcintosh  was  fired  upon  and  killed  at  Brookfield  while  milking 
her  cows,  August  2,  1706,  and  also  one  Judah  Trumble,  killed 
there  about  the  same  date.  "Oct.  13,  1708,  in  the  same  town,  John 
Wolcott,  a  lad  of  about  thirteen  years,  was  riding  early  in  the  morn- 
ing in  search  of  the  cows  when  Indians  fired  at  him,  killing  his 
horse  and  taking  him  prisoner.     Six   men   from  Jennings'  garri- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


51 


son,  hearing  the  firing  and  thinking  it  proceeded  from  Banister's 
garrison,  hastened  to  the  latter  place,  but  were  waylaid  by  the 
Indians,  when  Abijah  Bartlett  was  killed  and  three  others 
wounded." 

Indians  Kill  White  Men  at  Brookfield 

"  In  1709,  Robert  Granger  and  John  Clary  were  passing 
along  a  road,  in  Brookfield,  and  being  fired  upon  by  the  In- 
dians, Granger  was  killed  on  the  spot.  Clary  attempted  to  escape 
but  was  soon  shot  down."     July  22,    17 10,  six  men  were  making 


WILLIAM  BEMIS,  SR.    HOUSE. 

The  original  house  built  by  William  Bemis,  Senior,  son  of  Samuel  Bemis,   Senior,   on  the 

east  end  of  lot  15,  in  1746.     The  outside  has  been   recovered,   kept  in   good  repair 

and  looks  like  a  modern  house.     Now  owned  by  Jeremiah  Kane. 

hay  in  the  meadows  at  Brookfield,  when  the  Indians  sprang  sud- 
denly upon  them  and  all  were  slain.  Such  facts  as  these, 
happening  so  short  a  distance  away  from  the  Bemis  homestead  and 
relatively  in  so  recent  a  period  of  time,  would  naturally  arouse  the 
fears  of  a  wise  and  prudent  woman  and  cause  her  to  plan  in  every 
way  to  make  life  as  secure  from  danger  as  possible.  But  there 
were  other  factors  in  the  case.  Strange  Indians  had  been  seen 
prowling  about  the  frontier  settlements,  and  although  no  man 
knew  their  purpose,  it  was  readily  divined  that  their  mission  was 
not  one  of  peace,  and  while  no  overt  act  against  the  whites  oc- 
curred until  eight  months  after  Mrs.   Bemis  returned  from  Sud- 


52 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


bury,  yet  what  then  happened  showed  that  the  settlers  had  accur- 
ately prejudged  the  intent  of  their  enemy,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
following  : 

Gray  Lock  the  Famous  Indian  Chieftain. 

In  an  account  by  Francis  E.  Blake,  in  the  History  of  Rutland, 
he  says  :  "On  the  13th  of  August,  1723,  Gray  Lock,  an  old 
chief  of  the  Waranokes,  whose  hiding  place  during  the  early  sum- 
mer had  been  unknown,  with  four  other  Indians  approached  the 
town  of  Nortbfield,  and  there  waylaying  two  of  its  prominent 
men,  killed  them  on  the  spot,  and  long  before  the  inhabitants  could 


-,  % 


THE  JONAS  BEMIS,  SR.,  PI,ACE, 

in  the  south  part  of  Spencer,  and  where  he  settled  about  175s  after  his  return  from 
the  war  with  France.  This  is  not  the  original  house,  but  superseded  that  structure,  and 
is  known  to  have  been  erected  prior  to  1798.  Ijeut.  Bemis  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
heaviest  man  that  ever  lived  in  Spencer,  weighing,  it  is  said,  over  400  pounds.  This  is  also 
where  Jonas  Bemis.  Jr.  lived,  familiarly  known  in  his  later  years  as  "Old  Squire  Jonas" 
from  his  having  a  commission  as  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  died  in  1S46,  aged  S5.  This 
was  also  the  residence  of  Alpha,  son  of  Jonas,  Jr.  In  1S73,  in  Spencer,  there  was  what 
was  called  "a  smallpox  epidemic,"  and  this  house  was  taken  by  the  authorities  and  made 
into  a  hospital  for  patients  having  that  disease.  Dr.  C  A.  Beniis  was  placed  in  charge  as 
superintendent  with  a  salary  at  the  rate  of  $1000  per  year,  he  agreeing  to  supply  medi- 
cines and  pay  small  incidental  expenses.  Before  the  spring  of  1S74,  the  patients  had  all 
been  discharged  and  the  dwelling  ever  since  has  been  distinguished  as  the  "Pock  House.'  ' 

organize  a  force  for  pursuit,  they  were  far  beyond  reach  on  their 
way  to  the  exposed  settlement  of  Rutland.  Hovering  about  the 
town,  easily  concealed  by  the  woods  with  which  they  were  doubt- 
less familiar,  they  awaited  an  opportunity  to  wreak  their  ven- 
geance upon  some  of  the  innocent  people  there.  The  succeeding 
day,  the  14th   of  August,    Deacon  Joseph   Stevens,    was  at  work 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


53 


alone  in  a  meadow  a  half  mile  northeast  of  the  meeting  house. 
Four  of  his  sons,  leaving  their  home  upon  the  hill,  went  down 
into  the  meadow  to  join  their  father,  when  they  were  suddenly 
surrounded  by  the  five  Indians  who  quickly  with  their  blows  kill- 
ing two,  Samuel  and  Joseph,  seized  the  others,  Phineas  and  Isaac, 
and  held  them  captives.  The  father  heard  their  cries  and  saw  the 
fearful  deed  but  knowing  he  was  utterly  powerless  to  cope  with 
the  savages,  escaped  to  the  neighboring  bushes  and  subsequently 


DAVID  BEMI?, 

son  of  William   Bemis  Jr.,  and  great  grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr., 

born  in    Spencer.  Aug.   3,  1812;  died  in  Spencer,   Jan.  24,   1899; 

thirty-six  years  an   assessor  for  the  town  of   Spencer,  a 

longer  service  in  one  office  than  has  been  attained 

by  any  other  citizen  in  the  town's  history. 

to  his  home.  Three  of  the  Indians  guarded  the  two  boys  while 
two  passing  on  laid  in  wait  for  vSimeon  Davis  and  his  son  who 
were  at  work  in  a  meadow  near  by,  unconscious  of  the  impending 
danger.  Mr.  Davis,  however,  prevented  the  accomplishment  of 
the  plan  by  fortunately  returning  home  by  another  path  and  the 
Indians,  thwarted  in  their  designs,  moved  onward  to  join  their 
companions  and  while  in  sight  of  them,  came  upon  Rev.  Mr. 
Willard,  the  minister  of  the  town,  who  with  his  gun  had  been 
hunting  game." 


54 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Rev.  Mr.  Willard's  Fight  for  Life. 

"Both  of  the  Indians  fired  upon  him  but  did  no  harm  while  he 
returned  the  fire,  severely  wounding  one  of  them.  The  other 
sprang  upon  him  and  the  two  closed  together,  fought  for  the  mas- 
tery, and  when  the  valor  and  strength  of  the  minister  seemed 
about  to  overcome  the  savage,  the  three  other  Indians,  running  to 
the  spot,  quickly  overpowered  him  and  took  his  life.  The  only 
witness  to  tell  of  this  deed  in  after  years,  Phineas  Stevens,  testified 


SUN    DIAL. 

This  sun  dial  bears  the  marks  of  age,  but  how  old  it  is  no  one  knows. 

It  was  donated  to  the  public  museum  by  George   Bemis    of  South 

Spencer,  now  living,  over  eighty  years  of  age,  who  says  it  came 

from  his  grandfather  Nathaniel's  estate,  and  he  thinks  it 

originally   belonged  to  Samuel   Bemis,   Senior. 

to  the  brave  resistance  and  the  manliness  of   Mr.   Willard  in  his 
struggle  for  life." 

Brave  Woman  at  Oxford. 

"In  Oxford  on  the  6th  of  August,  1724,  four  Indians  came 
upon  a  small  house  built  under  a  hill.  They  made  a  breach  in  the 
roof  and  as  one  of  them  was  attempting  to  enter  he  received  a 
shot  in  the  abdomen  from  a  courageous  woman,  the  only  person  in 
the  house,  who  had  two  muskets  and  two  pistols,  and  was  prepar- 
ing for  all  four  but  they  thought  fit  to  retreat,  carrying  off  the 
dead  or  wounded  man." — Rut/and  History. 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


55 


Scouts  Posted  at  Leicester. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  time  of  peril.  In  1722  the  town  of  Leices- 
ter applied  to  the  Governor  of  the  Massachusetts  Colony  to  have 
scouts  posted  there  through  fear  of  the  Indians  and  the  petition 
was  granted,  and  in  1724,  twenty-nine  soldiers  were  assigned  to 
duty  there  scouting  on  the  outskirts  of  the  settled  portion  of  the 
town  and  guarding  the  farmer  as  he  tilled  his  fields,  or  toiled  in 




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THE    BEMIS   ELM, 

Now  standing  across  the  highway,  south  of  Bemis  Memorial   Park.    Before  the   Bemis 

family  abandoned  the  home  farm  it  was  customary  to  raise  for  market  about  a 

hundred  turkeys   a  year,  and  this  tree  was  their  roosting  place. 

his  meadows.  The  uncertainty  of  life,  continually  exposed  to 
Indian  assaults,  still  agitating  the  people  of  Leicester,  in  1726 
they  caused  a  garrison  to  be  built  around  the  house  of  their  min- 
ister, Rev.  David  Parsons,  near  the  present  Congregational  church 


56  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

at  a  cost  of  1 1 Hbs.  ios.  3d.,  but  Leicester  was  fortunate  in  never 
having  to  use  the  garrison  for  its  intended  purpose,  and  in  never 
having,  so  far  as  knoun,  a  white  man  slain  within  her  borders  by 
the  Indians. 

Scouts  at  Brookfield 

In  1725  scouts  were  posted  at  Brookfield,  and  the  following  is 
a  partial  report  of  service  performed  : 

March  18-19,  guarded  the  people  fencing  their  meadows. 

April  1,  guarded  the  people  at  the  corn  mill. 

April  26,  guarded  the  people  to  plow. 

May  4-13,  guarded  the  people  to  plant. 

May  10,  scouted,  discovered  Indian  tracks  by  Ware  river. 

May  29,  scouted  the  swamps  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians. 

July  10,  guarded  23  men  at  work  in  the  meadow  making  hay. 

It  was  not,  however,  for  other  reasons  always  agreeable 
for  the  settlers  to    live  in  the    wilderness  apart  from   their  fel- 


A    PAIR    OF    ANDIRONS. 

These  old  Andirons  were  dug  up  by  Mr.  Charles  A.  Boyden  in  1S80  from  the  cellar  of  the 

first  frame  house  erected  in  Spencer  by   Samuel  Bemis  in   1726.     Their  design  is 

one  of  the  earliest,  and   as  they  were  made  by  hand  it  appears  probable 

they  were  used  in  the  old   house.    They  are  now  in  the  possession 

of  Dr.    A.   A.    Bemis. 

low-men,  isolated  from  the  home  of  their  childhood,  the  asso- 
ciations of  their  youth,  the  presence  of  their  kindred  and  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  dangers  of  frontier  life,  and  we  get  now 
and  then  glimpses  as  to  how  some  of  these  early  pioneers 
felt   along   these    lines  when  they   gave  utterance  to  their  feel- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS  57 

ings.  It  is  fair  to  assume  that  the  following  experience  of 
Ephraim  Curtis,  the  first  settler  in  Worcester,  and  great-great- 
grandfather of  Judge  Albert  W.  Curtis  of  this  town,  was  but  the 
record  of  a  feeling  common  among  the  early  pioneers.  The  his- 
tory says  he  "left  Sudbury  with  a  pack  on  his  back,  a  light,  long 
Spanish  gun  on  his  shoulder,  and  an  axe  in  his  hand,  and  set  his 
face  toward  Worcester. 

Early  Settler  Sheds  Tears. 

"This  was  in  the  fall  of  1673.  He  settled  near  Lincoln  street 
at  a  place  called  by  the  Indians  Quinsigamug.  Here  he  was  all 
alone  in  the  wilderness  for  a  year  or  more,  and  in  subsequent 
times  used  to  tell  how,  after  working  all  day,  he  would  sit  down 
and  look  toward  Sudbury  and  shed  tears  in   spite  of  himself." 

Another  writer  of  those  times,  evidently  one  who  at  a  previous 
date  had  enjoyed  the  social  life  of  some  hamlet,  now  relates  a  wil- 
derness experience  in  the  language  of  one  who  is  heartbroken  and 
homesick.     The  person  says: 

A  Howling  Wilderness. 

"  A  howling  wilderness  it  was,  exposed  da)^  and  night, 
whether  in  hut  or  field,  to  the  wily  and  cruel  Indian,  the  lurking 
and  ravenous  bear  or  wolf.  A  howling  wilderness  it  was,  where 
no  man  dwelt — the  hideous  yells  of  wolves,  the  shrieks  of  owls, 
the  gobbling  of  turkeys,  and  barking  of  foxes,  was  all  the  musiek 
we  enjoyed — no  friends  to  visit,  no  soul  in  the  surrounding  towns; 
all  a  dreary  waste  and  exposed  to  a  thousand  difficulties;  no  roads, 
no  mills,  no  schools  or  sanctuary." 

Isolation,  however,  and  disquieting  noises  in  the  night  wTere 
not  all  the  trials  of  the  settler.  The  wolf  was  a  constant  men- 
ace. It  is  recorded  that  in  1723,  at  Ipswich,  the  birthplace 
of  Nathaniel  Wood,  "wolves  were  so  abundant  and  so  near 
the  meeting  house  that  parents  would  not  suffer  their  chil- 
dren to  go  and  come  from  worship  without  some  grown  per- 
son. It  wras  a  common  thing  to  hear  them  commence  their 
howl  soon  after  sunset,  when  it  was  very  dangerous  to  go  near  the 
woods."  It  was  also  said  that  "  all  the  young  settlements  were 
harassed  by  the  incursions  of  troops  of  wolves." 

The  Troublesome  Wolf. 

At  Worcester  in  1733,  it  is  recorded  that  "  so  great  was  the 
injury  done  by  these  marauders  that  the  price  of  heads  was  raised 
to  eight  pounds.  The  precipitous  cliff  still  called  Rattlesnake 
Rocks  was  the  favorite  resort  of  wolves,  bears,  wild  cats  and  ser- 


58  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

pents,  rendering  the  steep  dangerous  to  man."  In  1734  the 
record  says  that  "  notwithstanding  the  law  of  the  province  giv- 
ing encouragement  for  the  destruction  of  wolves,  they  still  con- 
tinue very  troublesome  and  mischievous,  especially  among  young 
cattle  and  sheep  whereby  people  are  discouraged  from  keeping 
sheep  so  necessary  for  clothing."  It  is  presumable  that  Samuel 
Bemis  from  his  remote  location  was  particularly  well  situated  to 
invite  the  depredations  of  these  wild  animals.  It  may  be  well  here 
to  note  other  conditions  prevailing  at  that  time. 

The  Highways  Intolerable. 

Draper's  history  says  that  as  late  as  1788,  "the  highways  were 
intolerable,  the  Great  Post  road  by  far  the  best  in  the  country, 
and  which  has  since  received  so  many  straightenings  and  level- 
ings,  was  then  so  rough  and  hilly  that  it  was  only  competent  for  a 


POWDER  HORN. 

Powder  Horn  carried  by  Capt.  Edmond  Bemis  throughout  his  service  in  the  Colonial 

Wars.     It  was  inherited  by  his  son,  Joseph,  and  by  Joseph's  sons,   Sylvatms  and 

John,  by  whom  it  was  presented  to  the   Spencer  Museum,   through   Win. 

M.  Wakefield,   who  cared   for  them  in  their  old  age. 

team  of  four  horses  to  transport  the  weight  of  one  ton  to  Boston 
and  return  with  the  same  weight  in  one  week.  The  chief  instru- 
ments in  repairing  the  roads  were  the  cart  and  the  iron  bar.  The 
plough  was  then  never  used  for  that  purpose,  and  what  rocks 
could  not  be  removed  with  iron  bars  alone,  stood  their  ground  in 
whatever  part  of  the  road  they  happened  to  be  located,  bidding 
defiance  to  the  horses'  hoofs  or  the  wheels  of  the  carriages,  for  the 
use  of  gunpowder  in  removing  rocks  was  then  unpracticed  and 
hardly  known." 

Brookfield  Petitions  for  Good  Roads. 

At  an  earlier  date  the  citizens  of  Brookfield  had  sent  to 
"  His  Excellency  Richard  Earl  of  Belmont,"  for  a  sum  of  money 
wherewith  to  repair  that  part  of  the  Bay  Path  road  between 
Brookfield  and  Worcester,  and  which  went  by  way  of  Charlton  and 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  59 

Oxford.  While  this  road  did  not  go  through  any  part  of  Leices- 
ter this  document  represents  the  general  state  of  the  highways  at 
that  time.     This  is  the  petition  : 

Wee  the  subscribers  being  verry  senceable  of  the  inconvenien- 
cys  that  may  happen  in  as  much  as  the  stated  Road  to  Conitticot 
especially  Betwixt  Wooster  &  Brookfield  is  verry  much  incumbered 
with  Trees  fallen  &  many  Rocky  Swamps  &  other  impassable  Ob- 
structions to  Travellers,  Drovers,  and  others,  &  hazzarding  life  or 
limb  of  both  men  and  Horses  &  other  Creatures  to  great  Losses  & 
Damages,  Humbly  propose  that  there  bee  a  Suteable  allowance 
Granted  to  repairs  &  amend  said  Road,  at  least  to  the  sum  of  — 
pounds,  Out  of  the  Publique  Treasurie  of  this  Province,  which  we 
Humbly  leave  to  consideration,  &  Subscribe 

JOHN  PYNCHON, 
SAML  PARTRIGG, 
JOHN  CLARKE, 
ISAAC  PHELPS, 
SAM'L  MARSH. 
Brookfield,  May  29,  1700. 

"The  General  Court  voted  the  sum  of  5  lbs.  for  mending  the 
road  aforesaid,  where  it  is  needed."  This  was  about  $1.50 
per  mile,  but  then  those  were  truly  days  of  "small  things." 

A  New  England   Town  in  1719. 

Let  us  now  get  the  picture  of  a  New  England  village  as  it  ap- 
peared at  the  time  of  the  advent  of  Samuel  Bemis  into  Leicester  and 
we  shall  then,  bearing  in  mind  what  has  preceded,  have  a  fairly 
complete  idea  of  the  appearance  of  the  country,  his  environment 
and  the  conditions  under  which  he  was  obliged  to  labor.  The  fol- 
lowing description  of  Worcester  in  1719  is  taken  from  Lincoln's 
History  :  "There  were  58  dwellings  here  at  that  time  and  about 
200  persons.  Tradition  says  they  were  humble  edifices,  princi- 
pally of  logs,  one  story  high,  and  with  ample  stone  chimneys. 
Some  were  furnished  with  windows  of  diamond  glass  where  the 
resources  of  the  proprietor  afforded  means  for  procuring  such  a 
luxury.  The  light  was  admitted  in  many  through  the  dim  trans- 
parency of  oiled  paper." 

Houses  Have  Plank  Doors. 

From  other  sources  it  is  learned  that  the  doors  to  the  houses 
were  made  of  planks  in  the  most  substantial  wray,  nailed  together 
with  wrought  iron  nails  and  securely  clinched.  The  windows 
were  strongly  made  and  opened  outwardly,  while  inside,  as  a  fur- 
ther protection,  were  heavy  wooden  shutters. 

After  1722  we  learn  but  little  more  of  Samuel  Bemis  until 
the  summer  of  1726,  the  year  he  built  the  first  framed  house  in 
w?hat  is  now  Spencer.     This  building  was  two  stories  in   height 


60  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


and  covered  800  square  feet  of  ground.  This  is  learned  from  a 
a  description  given  by  the  assessors  in  1798,  when  they  report 
as  above  and  add  that  the  house  contains  eleven  windows 
and  sixty-seven  square  feet  of  glass.  This  would  give  an  average 
of  six  square  feet  to  a  window,  or  about  one  half  the  usual  size  of 
windows  at  the  present  time.  This  house  was  taken  down  about 
1845  or  within  the  memory  of  many  now  living.  It  was  no  small 
undertaking  at  that  time  and  place  to  build  a  house  of  that  size. 
Housewrights,  as  carpenters  where  called  in  those  days,  were  not 
plentiful,  John  Stebbins  of  Leicester  hill,  being  the  principal  one 
then  in  the  town.  It  may  have  been  that  the  father-in-law  of 
Samuel  Bemis,  John  Barnard  of  Sudbury,  a  housewright,  super- 
intended its  construction.  All  the  timber  must  needs  be  cut, 
lined,  scored  and  hewed. 

Framing  a  New  House  for  Samuel  Bemis. 

The  present  method  of  framing  was  unknown.  Each 
stick  was  in  turn  made  to  fit  into  its  place  in  another  stick  by  a 
process  known  as  the  scribe  rule,  that  is  the  whole  frame  had  to 
be  put  together  on  the  nround,  one  section  at  a  time,  each  tenon 
and  mortise  made  the  complement  of  each  other  and  then  taken 
apart  and  laid  away  until  the  time  of  raising.  And  then,  when 
the  frame  was  all  ready,  a  bee  was  ordered  and  all  the  men  in  the 
country  around  were  invited  to  attend  and  help  raise  the  build- 
ing. At  that  time  there  were  to  be  had  in  country  places  no  ropes 
and  tackle — nothing  but  the  muscle  of  hardy  yeomen  was 
available.  Every  man  came  who  could.  To  go  to  a  rais- 
ing was  to  have  a  holiday  of  the  most  pleasant  character  and 
so  we  may  suppose  the  neighbors  of  Samuel  Bemis  in  Brookfield 
and  Leicester  turned  out  in  force  on  the  morning  of  some  fair  day 
in  1726,  and  before  the  sun  went  down  had  made  him  the  happy 
possessor  of  the  skeleton  of  a  house  of  his  choice,  strongly  and 
securely  erected  and  ready  for  its  outside  covering.  When  com- 
pleted, into  this  house  he  moved  and  here  spent  the  days  of  his 
vigorous  manhood  and  at  last  when  enfeebled  by  age  bid  adieu 
to  the  scenes  of  earth. 

Why  Seven  Mile  River  Was  so  Named. 

The  Seven  Mile  river  in  Leicester  and  the  Five  Mile  river  in 
Brookfield  were  so  designated  by  the  early  settlers  on  Foster  Hill, 
in  Brookfield,  to  denote  the  distance  from  their  settlement  to  the 
fording  places  where  these  streams  crossed  the  Boston  trail.  In 
1725  the  town  of  Leicester  was  complained  of  at  the  Quarterly 
Session  of  the  Worcester    Court,  and  under  a  law  then  in  force 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  6 1 

fined  for  failing  to  provide  a  bridge  at  the  junction  of  the  Seven 
Mile  river  with  the  "Country  Road"  near  the  house  of  Samuel 
Bemis.  This  protest,  though  an  expense  to  Leicester,  did  not 
bear  immediate  results,  and  in  1728  the  town  was  again  fined, 
with  total  costs  amounting  to  about  seventy-five  dollars,  and  this 
time  was  aroused  to  action.  There  was  a  town  meeting  legally 
convened,  March  5,  1728,  "to  see  what  steps  and  methods  the 
town  will  take  to  answer  the  presentment  at  the  Quarter  .Sessions 
for  not  erecting  a  bridge  over  the  Seven  Mile  river.  Voted  that 
Lieut.  Thomas  Newhal  and  Mr.  Josiah  Converse  do  answer  the 
presentment  at  the  Quarter  Sessions  in  behalf  of  the  town  for  not 
building  the   bridge    over    Seven    Mile    river." 

First  Bridge  Over  Seven  /Mile  River. 

The  money  was  raised  for  the  bridge  and  it  was  completed 
the  year  following,  but  the  structure  appears  to  have  been 
a  crude  attempt  at  bridge  building,  and  was  probably  built 
low  down  near  to  the  stream  and  only  wide  enough  tor  the  pas- 
sage of  a  single  team.  Owing,  probably,  to  the  superficial  char- 
acter of  the  structure  we  find  the  town,  Nov.  2,  1741,  consider- 
ing the  cpjestion  whether  it  would  be  better  to  repair  the  old 
bridge  or  build  a  new  one  as  we  learn  from  the  following  record: 

Att  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  ye 
town  of  Leicester,  Leagaly  convened  upon  Monday,  the  second  dav 
of  November,  1741,  that  whare  as  the  sum  granted  by  this  town  for 
the  repairing  the  highways  in  this  town  prove  in  sufficiant  and  more 
particularly  in  the  western  part  of  said  town  there  being  so  much 
wanting  to  be  done  either  in  repairing  the  bridge  over  Seven  Milde 
River  or  to  build  a  new  Bridg  over  said  river  this  is  therefore  to  see 
if  ye  town  will  grant  a  sutable  sum  of  money  to  repare  or  build  said 
Bridge  or  what  may  be  nessarey  for  any  other  part  of  said  town  as 
allso  to  see  what  the  town  will  alow  to  each  man  for  a  days  work  at 
said  bridge  as  allso  for  cart  and  oxen  and  put  ye  care  there  of  into 
ye  hands  of  a  sutable  committee  or  other  ways  to  see  what  ye  town 
will  do  in  the  affare  a  Bove  mentioned.  Voted  that  ve  sum  of  eight 
shillings  be  a  lowed  to  each  man  for  a  days  work  at  ve  above  said 
Bridg  at  the  Discression  of  the  Committe  and  the  sum  of  five  shill- 
ings a  da}-  for  a  pair  of  oxen  and  the  sum  of  three  shillings  a  dav 
for  a  cart  in  the  business  a  Bove  said 

Samuel  Bemis  Directs  Sixty-five  Men  at  Bridge 

Building. 

The  town  voted  the  money  needed  and  this  time  a  substan- 
tial structure  was  erected,  occupying  about  two  weeks'  time,  with 
Samuel  Bemis  apparently  superintendent  of  the  work.  No  man 
before  or  since  probably  had  such  an  array  of  help  at  the  build- 
ing of  a  wooden  bridge  in  town  as  Mr.  Bemis  directed  on  this 
■occasion,  no  less  than   sixty-five   different   men   being  employed 


62 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


during  its  construction,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  document 
recorded  in   1742: 


Mr.  William  Green, 

Treasurer  of  the  town  of  Leicester, 
Sir — Whare  as  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  at  a  meeting  Reg- 
ularly convened,  voted  to  raise  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds  to  build  a 
Bridg  over  Seven  Mile  River  in  this  town  and  the  same  have  bin 
assessed  on  the  Inhabitants  and  Delivered  to  the  last  year's  Consta- 
bles, viz:  John  Crowl  and  patrick  Watson,  and  the  several  persons 
which  are  here  under  written  working  in  Building  the  Bridg  the 
sum  affixed  against  his  name  all  which  sums  so  affixed  you  are  de- 
sired to  pav  to  the  several  persons  here  under  named  and  the  same 
shall  be  alowed  to  you. 


JOHN  LYND, 

JOHN  WHITTEMOR, 

JOSHUA  NICKOLS, 

LUK  LINCOLN, 

BENJAMIN  TUCKER, 

Selectmen 

of 

Leicester. 

L. 

S. 

d. 

L. 

s.       d.. 

Benj.  Woodart, 

16 

Josaniah  How, 

8 

David  Earl, 

S 

Henery  White, 

8 

Jacob  Briaut, 

s 

John  Onus, 

1 

4 

Edward  East, 

8 

Thomas  Graton, 

16 

Robert  Griffin, 

1 

9 

John  Stebbins, 

8 

Daniel  Denny, 

2 

10 

6         Samuel  Bemis,  Jr  , 

1 

4 

James  Southgate, 

1 

6 

Thos.  Richardson, 

1 

12 

John  Scott, 

1 

12 

Ichabod  Merrit, 

1 

4 

John  Whittemor, 

1 

4 

Fklward  Bond, 

8 

Daniel  Snow, 

16 

Robert  Woodart, 

8 

James  Smith, 

S 

Oliver  Witt, 

8 

franses  how, 

8 

William   Green  Jr. 

8 

John  Graton, 

13 

Joseph  Tompson, 

1 

4 

William  Wickor, 

8 

John  Reed, 

1 

4 

Jonathan  Sargent, 

1 

4 

hugh  Cunningham 

, 

S 

Rich'd  Southgate,  J 

r. 

8 

patrick  Watson, 

1 

17 

William  Sinkley, 

8 

Rich'd  Southgate, 

1 

6 

Benjamin  Johnson, 

2 

8 

John  Lynd, 

1 

17 

Nathaniel  Green, 

16 

Thomas  Lowden, 

16 

Joseph  Shaw, 

8 

Joshua  Nickols, 

1 

6 

Benj    Bond, 

8 

John  Lynd.  Jr  , 

S 

Thomas  Smith, 

8 

John  Sanderson, 

16 

Joseph  Trumbel, 

8 

phinice  Newton, 

8 

William  Earl, 

8 

Jonas  Livermor, 

8 

Samuel  Tucker, 

16 

William  Thompsor 

L, 

8 

John  Potter, 

8 

Samuel  Bemis, 

5 

12 

Archabel  Lamond, 

8 

David  Adams, 

15         6 

Samuel  Brown, 

I 

14 

Joshua  Whitney, 

S 

Thomas  Steel, 

I 

4 

William  Green, 

2 

18 

peter  Silvester, 

1 

12 

Jonathan  Lamb, 

1 

14 

Israel  Parsons, 

2 

12 

Jacob  Shaw, 

8 

Jonathan  Newhall, 

I 

6 

Samuel  Barns, 

13 

Daniel  Lynd, 

16 

John  Converse, 

1 

6 

SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


63 


At  a  town  meeting  held  March  15,  1742,  Art.  5,  was  as  fol- 
lows : 

To  see  if  the  town  a  low  ye  Coumpts  of  the  Committe  that 
was  impowered  to  Build  a  Bridg  over  Seven  Mile  River  in  this  town 
as  allso  to  see  if  they  will  make  sum  a  lowance  to  Mr.  Samuel  Bemis 
for  timber  cut  in  his  land  to  Build  said  Bridg  with  and  grant  money 
to  pay  ye  same.  Voted  to  allow  ye  account  of  the  Comity  in  holl 
that  was  chosen  to  buld  ye  Bridg  over  seven  mile  river.  Voted  that 
ye  sum  of  i6fb  us  6d  be  granted  and  assessed  to  defray  ye  charge 
of  building  ye  bridge  over  seven  Mild  river. 

The  sides  to  the  bridge,  however,  were  open  and  so  remained 
for  fifty -seven  years,  when  at  a  town  meeting  held  May  14,  1798, 
it  was  "voted  to  repair  the  Bridge  near  Amasa  Bemis'  house,  and 
to  have  rails  both  sides  of  the  Bridge  and  causeway." 


SEVEN  MILE  RIVER  BRIDGE. 

The  famous  Seven  Mile  River  Bridge,  near  the  original   homestead*"of  SamueirBemis. 

The  center  of  the  old  fordway  was  about  ten  feet  from  the  north_or  opposite 

side  of  the  bridge  as  shown  in   the  engraving. 


64 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Church  Relations  in  Leicester  and  Spencer. 

While  Samuel  Bemis  appears  never  to  have  been  a  commu- 
nicant of  the  church,  his  relations  thereto  and  to  the  parish 
with  which  he  was  connected,  seem  to  have  been  of  a  most 
cordial  character.  In  1733,  we  rind  him  paying  for  the  sup- 
port ot  the  Leicester  church  2ibs.  is.  8d.,  or  the  most  of 
any    man    in    a   list   of    thirty-eight   tax    payers,    except   John 


CHIGOE   BEMIa, 

daughter    of    Joshua    Bemis    Jr.,     and   great     granddaughter    of   Samuel 
Bemis   Sr.      Born   in  Spencer,  April   i,  1N20,  now  living.        Married 
Lorenzo   O     Livermore    in     May,    1840,   better  known   by    the 
name  of  I^ory.      Their  children  were;  Walton  t,ivermore 
and   Mrs. "Frances   L,ivermore   Stone,    now    living  in 
Spencer,  and  Rev.  Albert  L,ivermore  of  Mon- 
tour Falls,   New  York. 

Lynd,  who  paid  2ms.  1  is.  yd.  In  1734,  out  of  a  list  of  seventy- 
five  persons  taxed,  he  paid  lib.  19s.  id.,  which  amount  was  ex- 
ceeded by  only  four  persons.  In  1735,  he  paid  for  mending  glass 
in  the  meeting  house  6s.  6d.  For  entertaining  council  16s.  6d. 
For  Rev.  David  Parsons  settlement  18.  iod.  For  paying  Rev. 
Mr.  Goddard's  arrears,  and  Dea.  James  Southgate  for  entertain- 
ing Mr.  Goddard  and  "sum  other  ministers  in  ye  year,"  11b.  6s.  4d. 


SAMUEL    BEMIS  65 


Only  two  others  out  of  a  list  of  ninety-four  who  were  assessed, 
paid  as  large  a  tax.  In  1736  he  paid  toward  Rev.  Mr.  Goddard's 
salary  2it>s.  ns.  iod.,  which  amount  was  exceeded  by  only  two 
persons:  Jacob  Lawton,  who  paid  3ms.  8s.  iod.  and  John 
Lynd,  who  paid  3lbs.  5s.   3d. 

Rev.  David  Parsons  Sues  the  Town 

In  1737,  the  Rev.  David  Parsons  sued  the  town  for 
arrearage  in  salary,  won  his  suit,  and  to  help  liquidate  this  debt 
Samuel  Bemis  paid  2lbs.  16s.  5d.,  and  these  sums  fairly  rep- 
resent his  annual  payments  in  support  of  the  gospel.     "As  early 


T4 


.' t- : -^1 


SPENCER    SCENERY. 
Overlooking  beautiful  Brooks  Pond  with  its  many  islands,  from  summer  residence  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Bemis. 

as  April  2,  1739,  Samuel  Bemis  and  John  Stebbins,  in  behalf  of 
other  settlers,  met  the  proprietors  at  Boston  to  see  about  support 
of  a  minister  of  the  gospel,"  and  later  "Samuel  Bemis  and  John- 
athau  Lamb  were  chosen  assessors  to  levy  a  tax  to  support  the 
preacher. — Draper,  p.  8y . 

In  1744,  when  the  western  half  of  Leicester  had  been  erected 
into  a  precinct  which  was  July  18th  of  that  year,  a  parish  meeting 
was  held  Sept.  10th,  at  which  it  was  voted  that  Mr.  Samuel  Bemis, 
John  Newhall  and  Mr.  James  Wilson  be  the  assessors.  Also  voted 
that  Samuel  Bemis,   John   Cunningham,  Johnathau   Lamb,  John 

5 


66  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY, 


Stebbins  and  James  Wilson  be  a  committee  for  calling  general 
meetings.  On  the  same  date  and  on  the  town's  book  of  records 
the  following  statement  is  made  : 

An   Unusual  Document 

We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  for  ourselves 
and  ours,  hereby  declare  ourselves  fully  satisfied  on  the  account 
of  anv  charge  or  charges  that  we  have  been  at  of  any  public  nature 
or  degree  whatsoever  for  this  society  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world  to  this  day  as  witness  our  hands. 


Ctefx&*'£L      UO 


JOHN  ORMES, 
JOHNATHAN  LAMB, 
JOHN  STEBBINS, 

WILLIAM     X     SINKLER, 

MARK 

JAMES  WILSON, 
JOHN  CUNNINGHAM, 
JOSHUA  BARROW, 
SAMUEL  BEMIS,  JR., 
DAVID  ALEN, 
JOHN  NEWHAL, 
MOSES  SMITH, 
JOSIA.H  ROBINSON. 

Sept.  30,  1744,  the  committee  called  the  freemen  "to  meet  at 
the  meeting  house  in  said  parish  in  respect  of  their  choosing  Mr. 
Joshua  Eaton  to  be  their  gospel  minister  and  also  in  respect  to  his 
settlement  and  salary  and  also  to  receive  Mr.  Eaton's  answer  to 
settle  amongst  us,"  which  he  had  been  invited  to  do  at  a  previous 
meeting.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Eaton  gave  a  favorable  response 
to  their  invitation  for  at  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  that  James 
Wilson,  Samuel  Bemis,  Johnathan  Lamb  and  John  Stebbins  be  a 
committee  to  provide  for  the  ordination,  which  took  place  Novem- 
ber 7th.  At  a  parish  meeting,  Dec.  24,  1744  "to  see  about 
building  seats  in  the  meeting  house"  it  was  voted  that  Samuel 
Bemis,  Johnathan  Lamb,  James  Wilson,  Johnathan  Ormes,  John 
Stebbins,  Moses  Smith  and  Joshua  Barton  be  a  committee  to  build 
the  body  of  the  seats  and  to  mark  out  and  set  a  price  on  the  pwe 
spots."  "Voted  that  Mr.  Samuel  Bemis  shall  have  the  pwe  spot 
on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  coming  of  the  south  door,  prize 
5lbs.,  the  highest  cost  of  all."  "Voted,  tenthly  that  Mr.  Samuel 
Bemis,  Jr.,  have  the  pwe  spot  at  the  left  hand  side  of  the  coming 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


67 


in  of  the  east  door  in  case  that  he  provides  the  whole  of  the  wad- 
ing Stuf  for  the  Bodey  of  the  Seets." 

At  a  meeting  held  March  29,  1745  "voted  eighthly  that  Dea- 
con Willson,  Mr.  Samuel  Bemis  and  Left.  Lamb  be  a  comety  for 
to  divide  the  ministerial  and  school  lot." 

On  November  25,  1745,  the  parish  "voted  that  Johnathan 
Lamb,  Samuel  Bemis  and  James  Wilson  be  a  comety  to  rickon 
and  setal  accounts  with  Mr.  Eaton." 

At  a  meeting  held  on  "Mundy,  March  14,  1749,"  itwasvoted 
1  'to  raise  fifty  pounds  Old  Tenor  to  pay  Mr.  Samuel  Bemis'  account 
he  hath  against  ye  Parish." 


DRIVE  THROUGH  SPENCER  PUBLIC  PARK. 

The  only  town  offices  to  which  he  was  elected,  thus  far  found 
recorded,  are  those  of  constable  and  "Sarvayour  of  ye  Hiways," 
but  his  posterity  have  been  honored  with  town  office  beyond  that 
of  any  other  Spencer  family. 

His  interest  in  schools  cannot  be  determined  except  from  the 
fact  that  he  appears  to  have  paid  his  school  tax  whenever  there 
was  an  assessment  and  never  asked  for  any  abatement.  He  also 
took  the  schoolmaster  into  his  family  circle  in  the  days  when 
boarding  around  was  in  vogue,  and  at  another  time  to  have 
boarded  him  continuously  throughout  one-half  a  probable  term  of 
eight  weeks,  as  by  the  town  record  of  March  3,  1746,  when  it  was 


68  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


"voted  to  a  low  to  Samuel  Bemis  the  sum  of  four  pounds  eight 
shillings  old  tenor  for  Bording  our  schoolmaster,  Adam  Boolard 
one  month  &  keeping  his  horse  one  month." 

It  will  thus  be  seen  from  the  preceding  records  that  Samuel 
Bemis  in  his  prime  was  active  in  promoting  the  religions  inter- 
ests of  the  town  and  served  on  many  important  parish  commit- 
tees, but  neither  the  anathemas  of  Rev.  David  Parsons  nor  the 
tears  and  tender  entreaties  of  Rev.  Joshua  Eaton  prevailed  upon 
him  to  become  a  communicant  of  the  church  he  in  so  many  ways 
fostered.  He  was  now  nearing  sixty  years  of  age  ;  his  sons  had 
grown  to  manhood,  married  and  settled  around  him  and  from  now 
on  he  appears  to  have  gradually  relinquished  cares  of  a  public 
nature.  On  March  4,  1764,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  he  ceases 
to  be  the  manager  of  his  farm,  one  hundred  acres  of  which,  with 
"a  mansion  house  and  barn  thereon  where  I  now  live,"  he  deeds 
to  his  son  Joshua. 

Samuel  Bemis  in  His  Old  Age. 

He  has  lived  to  see  the  town  of  his  choice  gradually  develop 
into  a  thriving  settlement,  and  his  voice  and  deeds  have  been  po- 
tent in  shaping  its  destiny.  He  has  lived  to  see  two  of  his  sons 
march  away  to  the  French  and  Indian  Wars,  and  come  home 
laden  with  honors,  uncontaminated  with  the  vices  of  the  camp. 
He  has  seen  his  grandchildren  multiply  until  it  seems  probable 
that  he  may  have  been  unable  readily  to  have  called  them  all  by 
name,  and  now  as  he  is  nearing  the  close  of  life  he  sees,  on  the 
20th  of  April,  1775,  his  son  Jonas  and  six  of  his  grandsons  march 
as  minutemen  for  the  defence  of  the  colonies.  The  Brookfield 
Rangers,  in  which  company  his  son  Jonas  was  a  lieutenant,  must 
needs  pass  his  door,  and  whether  the  time  was  midday  or  mid- 
night, no  doubt  he  was  in  readiness  to  see  the  men  march  by  to 
the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum,  and  waving  his  hand  bid  them 
God  speed  as  they  pressed  on  and  out  of  sight  on  their  way  to 
Cambridge.  But  from  now  on,  being  old  and  feeble,  his  days  fly 
swiftly  by  and  in  1776,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four,  he  is  laid  away 
by  the  side  of  the  wife  of  his  youth  in  the  old  churchyard  on  the 
hill,  having  completed  his  life  work  and  won  the  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

Sarah  Barnard's  Ancestry. 

His  wife,  Sarah  Barnard,  came  from  English  ancestry.  She 
was  born  at  Watertown,  January  25,  1694,  and  died  at  Spencer, 
September  30,  1755,  preceding  him  twenty  years.  Her  father, 
grandfather  and  great  grandfather  Barnard  were  named  John. 
John  Barnard  Senior,  born  in  1602,  came  to  America  from  Ips- 
wich, England,  in  the  ship  Elizabeth,  William  Andrews  master, 
in  1634  with  his  wife  Phebe  and  their  son  John,  aged  three,  and 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  69 


settled  at  Ipswich  in  this  State.  Her  father  was  a  housewright 
and  lived  at  Watertown,  and  his  surname,  Barnard,  has  to  some 
extent  been  used  in  Spencer  as  a  given  name  in  the  Bemis  and 
other  families. 

The  names  of  the  children  of  Samuel  Bemis  and  wife  were  as 
follows  : 


Where  born. 
Watertown 

Sudbury 

Spencer 

Name. 
Samuel 
Edmund 
William 
Nathaniel 
Sarah 
Joshua 
Elizabeth 
Jonas 

Date. 
May,  — ,  1716 
Nov    1,  1720 
Nov.  1,  1722 

,  1725 

Dec.  12,  1727 
July  14,  1729 

-.  1732 
Mar.  25,  1737 

Where  died 
Spencer 

Date, 
Aug.  15,  1793 
Dec.  — ,  1810 
Mar.  23,  1 801 
Jan.  — ,  1784 

Age. 

77 
90 
78 
61 

" 

Mar.  24,  17S9 

59 

" 

May  7,    1790 

53 

Bemis  Family  as  Workers. 

The  sons  all  settled  in  Spencer  and  their  average  ages  at  death 
was  the  psalmist's  allotted  length,  three  score  years  and  ten. 
They  were  all  farmers,  men  of  action  and  property,  who  from 
morning  till  evening,  we  conclude,  or  from  sun  to  sun,  which  was 
in  those  times  the  working  day,  felled  the  forests,  dug  out  the 
stumps,  cleared  the  fields  of  rocks,  built  rail  and  stone  fences, 
reclaimed  the  swamps,  dug  ditches,  built  roads  and  such  other 
pioneer  work  as  was  needed  to  be  done  in  addition  to  tilling  the 
soil  and  caring  for  their  stock.  Surely  there  was  no  lack  of  work  in 
those  days,  and  while  there  was  not  much  money  in  circulation,  the 
people  all  managed  to  be  comfortably  fed,  clothed  and  housed.  It 
was  while  these  men  were  living  that  roads  actually  begun  to  be 
made,  since  for  the  first  thirty  years  after  the  settlement  of  the 
town  there  were  no  roads  except  the  "Country  Road,"  nothing 
but  cart  paths  from  house  to  house. 

Bemis  Family  at  Road  Building. 

The  first  road  laid  out  by  competent  authority  was  in  1750, 
but  from  the  beginning  of  road  making  in  Spencer  as  our  records 
will  show,  up  to  the  year  1901  under  the  administration  of  Lewis 
D.  Bemis,  road  commissioner,  the  Bemis  family  have  had  a  great 
proclivity  for  road  making,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  of  the  one 
hundred  miles  of  roads  in  town,  adding  thereto  twenty-five  miles 
of  roads  abandoned,  there  is  hardly  a  rod  on  which  at  one  time  or 
another  some  Bemis  has  not  worked.  In  one  year  there  were  four 
highway  surveyors  of  the  Bemis  name. 

The  son  of  Samuel,  who  became  the  most  distinguished,  was 
Captain  Edmund,  and  after  him  Corporal  Jonas,  both  from  ser- 
vice in  the  Colonial  Wars.  The  following  obituary  notice  orig- 
inally appeared  in  the  Massachusetts  Spy  of  December  26,  18 10, 
but  is  now  reproduced  from  Draper's  History  of  1841. 


7o 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


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SAMUEL    BEMIS.  7  I 


Captain  Edmund  Bemis. 

"Died  in  Spencer,  Captain  Edmund  Bemis,  aged  90  years. 
There  are  some  things  worthy  of  record  in  the  life  of  this  aged 
and  war  worn  veteran.  His  father  was  the  first  settler  in  Spen- 
cer, having  removed  from  Sudbury,  to  this  town,  about  the  time 
of  the  birth  of  this  son,  that  is,  about  1720.  This  son  Edmund 
has  been  very  remarkable  for  his  habits  of  honesty,  industry  and 
temperance,  which  have  produced  a  long  life  of  health  and  happi- 
ness. He  early  entered  into  the  service  of  his  country,  and  was  a 
Lieutenant  at  the  reduction  of  Louisburgh  in  the  year  1745.  At 
this  siege  he  was  a  zealous  and  active  officer.  After  the  French 
had  surrendered  to  the  victorious  arms  of  New  England,  it  was 
found  they  had  spiked  their  cannon,  intending  thereby  to  render 
them  entirely  useless  to  the  captors.  It  had  been  heretofore 
deemed  an  impracticable  thing,  after  a  gun  was  thus  spiked,  to 
drill  it  out,  or  by  any  other  method  whatever,  to  render  it  again 
fit  for  service.  The  commander  of  the  American  forces,  offered  a 
premium  to  any  one  who  would  undertake  the  task,  if  he  should 
prove  successful. 

Finds  a  Way  to  Utilize  Spiked  Cannon. 

"Lieutenant  Bemis  undertook  it,  and  by  a  process  heretofore 
never  thought  of,  effected  the  desired  object.  Instead  of  drilling,  as 
was  supposed  to  be  the  only  practicable  method,  he  collected  a 
large  quantity  of  wood  around  the  cannon,  and  setting  it  on  fire, 
heated  them  to  such  a  degree  that  with  a  cold  punch,  the  spike 
was  easily  driven  into  the  barrel.  Thus  was  he  the  author  of  a 
useful  discovery  to  his  country,  which  has  ever  since  been  followed 
with  complete  success.  After  the  reduction  of  Louisburgh,  he 
was  a  Captain  in  the  war  with  France  which  succeeded,  at  the 
close  of  which  he  returned  home,  to  seek  that  repose  among  his 
friends,  which  he  has  since  enjoyed  without  interruption. 

Digs  the  First  Grave  in  the  Old  Cemetery. 

"It  will  perhaps  be,  worthy  of  notice,  as  one  singular  circum- 
stance, that  he  dug  the  grave  for  the  first  person  in  Spencer,  up- 
wards of  seventy  years  ago.  As  he  was  the  first  person  who 
prepared  a  mansion  for  the  dead  in  this  town,  so  likewise  he  is 
the  last  inhabitant  who  has  removed  to  those  gloomy  mansions,  be- 
tween which  times,  there  are  supposed  to  have  been  not  less  than 
twelve  hundred  persons  consigned  to  the  same  place,  which  he 
first  marked  out,  and  of  which  he  has  since  taken  possession." 

The  grave  alluded  to  was  for  Elizabeth  Adams,  infant  child 
of  David  Adams,  a  neighbor  who  settled  in  Spencer  in  1734. 
The  child  was  buried  in   1742  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  old 


72 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


cemetery  where  a  headstone  may  be  seen  erected  by  some  one  of  a 
later  generation.  Nathaniel  Cunningham  gave  the  above  land  to 
the  town  in  1740  "for  the  accommodation  of  a  meeting  house 
and  for  other  parochial  and  municipal  purposes."  Before  this 
time  interments  were  made  at  Leicester. 


MOOSE  LAKE  AND  PUBLIC  PARK  GROVE. 

The  land  comprising  Spencer  Public  Park  is  in  the  rear  of  the  late  David  Bemis'  house  and  was 

purchased  from  him  and  donated  to  the  town  by  Hon.  Luther  Hill.     The  purchase 

price  was  $2, 100— of  which  amount  David  Bemis  discounted  $100  in 

view  of  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  to  be  used. 

Louisburgh  Fortress  Strongest  in  America. 

In  order  to  give  a  better  idea  of  what  was  accomplished  at 
Louisburgh,  which  is  on  Cape  Breton  Island,  Nova  Scotia,  the 
following  descriptive  matter  is  added:  About  17 13  the  French 
began  erecting  fortifications  here,  designed  to  be  the  strongest  in 
America.  The  work  continued  lor  thirty  years  and  five  million 
dollars  was  expended  on  the  fortress  and  armament.  The  station 
thus  became  very  important  to  the  naval  and  fishing  interests 
of  France  in  America  and  threatened  serious  loss  in  time  to  the 
English  and  colonial  fisheries.  Massachusetts  in  such  a  case 
would  have  been  the  chief  sufferer  among  the  colonies,  and  ever 
alive  to  her  interests,  in  1745  while  England  and  France  were  at 
war,  sent  an  expedition  to  attempt  the  capture  of  this  strong  cita- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


73 


del.  This  aggressive  movement  had  been  devised  by  Governor 
Shirley  and  sanctioned  by  the  legislature  of  the  colony  of  Massa- 
chusetts Bay.  William  Pepperell  was  chosen  commander  and 
sailed  for  Nova  Scotia  with  a  hundred  vessels  under  his  command, 
loaded  with  troops  and  munitions  of  war.  A  landing  was  effected 
April  30,  and  the  town  and  fortress  besieged  until  July  17,  when 

French  Commander  Surrenders 

the  French  commander  surrendered,  but  only  after  he  had  caused 
to  be  spiked  the  splendid  cannon  with  which  the  fort  was  equipped, 
and  which  Lieutenant  Edmund  Bemis  undertook  to  put  in  com- 
mission again  and  succeeded.  His  experience  as  a  blacksmith  led 
him  to  adopt  a  practical  method.  No  record  has  yet  been  found 
showing  the  sum  of  money  offered  for  the  discovery  or  whether 
the  amount  was  ever  actually  paid  over  to  Lieutenant  Bemis.  It 
is  not  improbable,  however,  that  a  diligent  search  among  our 
state  archives  will  yet  reveal  these  points. 

Some  years  after  Lieutenant  Bemis  returned  from  Louisburgh 
he  was  commissioned  as  a  Captain  and  authorized  to  recruit  a 
company  to  march  in  defence  of  Crown  Point.  This  he  did  and 
the  name  bestowed  on  these  recruits  was  Captain  Edmund  Bemis' 
Spencer  Co.,  although  but  few  men  were  from  Spencer  as  will  be 
seen  by  an  inspection  of  the  following  muster  roll. 

A  muster  roll  of  the  Company,  in  his  Majesty's  service  un- 
der the  command  of  Captain  Edmund  Bemis,  follows  : 


Edmund  Bemis,  Captain, 
Ephraim  Howard,  Lieutenant, 
Joseph  Hamilton,  Ensign, 
Samuel  Owen,  Sergeant, 
Isaac  Chadwick,  Sergeant, 
Nat.  Sargeant,  Sergeant, 
Elias  Bowker,  Clerk, 
John  Chamberlain,  Corporal, 
Eliphalet  Hambelin,  Corporal, 
Jonas  Bemis,  Corporal, 
Israel  Richardson,  Corporal 
Thomas  Weeks,  Drummer, 
Deliverance  Carpenter,  Private, 
Ebenezer  Nutting, 
Robert  Morgan, 
Joseph  Rutland, 
Benjamin  Wood, 
John  Adams, 


Pay  per 
L. 

Month 
s. 

d. 

Town. 

5 
3 

8 
12 

Spencer 
Western 

2 

8 

Brookfield 

18 

New  Salem 

18 

Western 

18 

Leicester 

18 

1 

Leicester 

13 
13 

6 
6 

Stockbridge 
Brookfield 

13 
13 
13 

6 
6 

6 

Spencer 
Spencer 
Brookfield 

12 

Brimfield 

12 

Brimfield 

12 

12 

Spencer 
Brookfield 

12 

(  i 

12 

(  i 

74 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Joice  Flagg, 
Jacob  Wood, 
Hbenezer  Davis, 
Nathan  Hamilton, 
Joseph  Wood, 
Abraham  Adams, 
Edward  Ayers, 
John  Trask, 
Malaah  Gardner, 
John  Spencer, 
John  Bowker, 
Christopher  Muggin, 
Thomas  Wood, 
Roger  Brissell, 

Joseph  Worcester, 

James  Graiton, 
James  Bacon, 
Ruben  Clark, 
John  Brightwell, 
Timothy  Bowen, 
Robert  Brayford, 
John  Brown, 
Oliver  Barrett, 
Stephen  Corben, 
William  Fisk, 
John  Gibbs, 
Soloman  Gibbs, 
Samuel  Lewis, 
John  Slaker, 
John  Vickery, 
William  White, 
William  Trickery, 


Private, 


Pay  per 

Month. 

Town. 

L. 

s.          d. 

12 
12 

Brookfield. 

12 
12 

1 1 

12 

i  i 

12 

1 ' 

12 

Ware  River 

12 

New  Salem 

12 

Worcester 

12 

Spencer 

12 

Spencer 

12 

Gore- Died 

12 

Western 

12 

Western 
[Deserted] 

12 

Spencer 

[Died  i 

n  Worcester] 

12 

Spencer 

12 

Leicester 

12 

Brimfield 

12 

Brimfield 

12 

Western 

12 

Hadley 

12 

Swanzey 

12 

Sunderland 

12 

Sunderland 

12 

Greenwich 

12 

Greenwich 

12 

Greenwich 

12 

Middlebury 

12 

Middlebury 

12 

New  Salem 

I 

12 

Greenwich 

i 

12 

Old  York 

Besides  Capt.  Edmund,  Samuel  Bemis  was  represented  in 
the  French  and  Indian  Wars  by  his  youngest  son  Jonas,  whom  it 
appears  served  the  colonies  in  the  same  company  as  his  brother 
Edmund,  and  had  risen  to  the  rank  of  a  sergeant  before  the  close 
of  his  service.  He  then  came  home,  married  and  settled  down  to 
the  life  of  a  farmer,  but  when  the  news  of  the  Concord  fight 
reached  him  he  promptly  took  his  equipments  and  as  Lieutenant 
marched  with  the  Brookfield  Rangers  to  the  front. 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


75 


Effect  of  the  Concord  Fight  in  Spencer. 

James  Draper  in  his  account  of  this  call  to  arms  says,  speak- 
ing of  the  British,  "After  having  a  conflict  with  our  troops  at 
Concord  they  were  repulsed  and  retreated  back  to  Boston  with 
considerable  loss.  An  alarm  was  immediately  spread  through  the 
country  like  an  electric  shock.  The  next  day  great  was  the  com- 
motion among  the  people.  Like  the  fiery  cross  of  the  ancient 
Scottish  clans,   a  messenger  on  horseback,  with  the  speed  of  the 


HIRAM  HOWE, 

Great  grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.,  brother  of  the  inventors,  William  and  Tyler 
Howe  and  uncle  of  Elias  Howe,  Jr.  He  was  a  man  well  known  in  Spencer  for 
seventy  years  and  until  laid  by  with  rheumatism  was  a  tireless  worker  on  his 
farm  and  about  his  saw,  grist  and  cider  mills.  He  was  known  among  his  towns- 
people as  an  absolutely  honest  man  who  worked  incessantly  and  never  found 
the  longest  days  of  June  quite  long  enough  in  which  to  accomplish  work  equal 
to  his  ambition.     Born  January  1S08  ;  died  September,  1901,  aged  9354  years. 

wind,  passed  through  the  towns  from  the  East  shouting  from  the 
top  of  his  voice,  'The  war  has  begun,  the  regulars  are  marching 
to  Concord.'  All  business  and  recreations  were  immediately  sus- 
pended. The  tarmer  left  his  plough  in  the  furrow,  the  mechanic 
the  tools  upon  the  bench  and  there  was  an  instantaneous  gather- 
ing of  the  people,  with  stern  wills,  to  do  whatever  should  be  nec- 
essary to  be  done  to  meet  the  emergency.     The  Company   (Capt. 


76 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Ebenezer  Mason's)  of  minute  men  buckled  on  their  knapsacks, 
shouldered  their  muskets  and  were  immediately  on  the  march. 
And  although  the  time  appointed  for  a  town  meeting  to  make 
provision  for  the  exigency  had  not  yet  arrived,  the  good  wives  of 
the  soldiers  with  the  assistance  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  fur- 
nishing them  with  a  hasty  and  imperfect  supply  of  clothing  and 
provisions,  they  marched  quickly  to  Cambridge.  Finding  the 
enemy  disposed  to  remain  in   his  stronghold,  the  town  of  Boston, 


SUMMER  RESIDENCE  OF  DR.  A.  A.  BEMIS,  OVERLOOKING  BROOKS  POND. 

forty  of  them  enlisted  for  eight  months  to  be  stationed  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Boston  and  the  remainder  returned  home."  Among  the 
latter  was  Lieut.  Jonas  Bemis,  after  a  service  of  eight  days. 


Record  of  Spencer  for  Patriotism  Unexcelled. 

But  this  battle  at  Concord  where  was  fired  "  a  shot  heard 
round  the  world  "  was  only  the  beginning  of  a  long  seven  years' 
conflict  with  England  for  civil  liberty  and  which  called  upon  all 
lovers  of  freedom  for  the  highest  manifestations  of  patriotism. 
And  nobly  did  Spencer  respond — no  requisition  was  made  upon 
her  for  men,  money,  food  or   clothing,    but  the  order  was  quickly 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  77 

filled,  not  grudgingly  but  willingly,  and  while  the  people  occupied 
a  humble  walk  in  life  compared  with  the  body  of  men  who  signed 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  they  had  a  purpose  equally  as 
strong  and  were  united  with  them,  in  upholding  that  compact 
wmich  they  solemnly  agreed  should  be  inviolable  under  the  pledge 
of  their  lives,  their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor,  and  Spencer 
stood  by  the  sentiment  of  that  agreement  without  flinching  until 
victory  came. 


Samuel  Bemis  Sends  a  Full  Delegation  to  the  War. 

Samuel  Bemis  was  not  without  representatives  in  that  con- 
flict. There  was  a  full  delegation.  He  had,  in  the  early  days  of 
the  war,  passed  on  to  his  reward  and  his  six  sons  were  past 
military  service,  but  his  stalwart  grandsons  were  of  the  right  age 
for  the  life  of  a  soldier,  and  were  ready  to  go  to  the  front  and 
fight  when  they  got  there,  and  they  went.  All  of  them  that  bore 
the  Bemis  name,  everyone  of  them  that  was  old  enough  to  bear  arms, 
fourteen  of  them  all  told,  marched  to  the  front  determined  to  help 
drive  the  English  army  out  of  the  land  of  their  birth,  and  having 
that  spirit  of  patriotism  burning  within  them  that  demanded  either 
victory  or  death.  They  reaped  victory,  but  not  until  they  had 
passed  through  the  hardships  of  many  campaigns,  nor  until  three 
of  their  number  had  suffered  the  untold  misery  of  a  winter  at  Valley 
Forge.  The  names  of  these  worthy  representatives  of  the  Bemis 
family  and  of  the  town  of  Spencer  are  as  follows: 

Muster  Roll  of  grandsons  of  Samuel  Bemis  who  served  in  the 
Continental  Army: 

Age  in  1776 

Benjamin  32  \ 

Samuel      27  •    Sons  of  Samuel  Bemis  Jr. 

Reuben      24  1 

John  271 

•L,  .  P  V    Sons  of  Edmund  Bemis 

Phmeas      22  [ 

Eleazer      20  J 

■L     .  ,  ^  >■     Sons  of  William  Bemis 

David         21  j 

■kt  .■.      ■  ,    2  -     Sons  of  Nathaniel  Bemis 
Nathaniel  16  j 

Obadiah     19 )     e  r  T  -r, 

T  T         Z  \     Sons  of  Jonas  Bemis 

Jonas  Jr.    16  j  J 

Amasa        19  \    Son  of  Joshua  Bemis 


78 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


■  '..  n 


SAMUEL   BEMIS.  79 


Samuel  Bemis'  Grandsons  at  Valley  Forge. 

Those  who  were  at  Valley  Forge  were  Lieutenant  Eleazer 
Bemis,  Sergeant  Jonas  Bemis  Jr.  and  Obadiah  Bemis. 

Where  shall  we  go  to  find  a  more  patriotic  family  ?  Surely 
this  is  a  record  that  will  be  difficult  to  match  and  one  worthy  our 
highest  admiration.  In  order  to  bring  to  our  minds  clearly  the 
trials  and  suffering  of  the  Continental  Army  at  Valley  Forge,  the 
following  extracts  are  taken  from  Lossings'  Life  of  Washington: 

"  Valley  Forge  !  What  thoughts  and  emotions  are  awakened 
at  the  mention  of  that  name.  Sympathy  and  admiration,  pity 
and  love,  tears  and  smiles  chase  each  other  in  rapid  succession,  as 
one  in  imagination  goes  over  the  history  ol  that  wintry  encamp- 
ment. Never  before  was  there  such  an  exhibition  of  the  triumph 
of  patriotism  over  neglect  and  want;  of  principle  over  physical 
sufferings;  of  virtue  over  the  pangs  of  starvation.     Those  tattered, 


The  Old  Bemis  Hostelry. 

The  cut  on  opposite  page  shows  the  "Old  Bemis  Hostelry  "  as  it  appeared  up  to  about 
1845.  The  main  buildings  at  the  left  were  built  by  Amasa  Bemis  in  i.so;,  and  annexed 
to  an  ell  connecting  with  the  old  house  erected  by  Samuel  Bemis  about  1726.  Thedate 
"  1S07  "  on  the  new  part,  was  painted  in  large  letters  above  the  front  door  and  on  the 
frieze  just  under  the  eaves.  The  picture  was  produced  from  the  memories  of  the  late 
Edwin  Bemis,  Lorenzo  Bemis  and  Ruel  Jones  of  Spencer  and  Horace  Bemis  of  New  York, 
who  dictated  the  plan  of  the  buildings  to  Mrs.  Nellie  Thayer  Bemis  in  1S86,  they  being 
desirous  of  pos-essing  a  picture  of  the  old  place  as  it  looked  when  they  were  boys.  The 
landscape  was  sketched  directly  from  nature  at  the  time. 


half-clad,  and  bare-foot  soldiers,  wan  with  want,  taking  up  their 
slow  march  for  the  wintry  forest,  leaving  their  bloody  testimonials 
on  every  foot  of  the  frozen  ground  they  traversed,  furnish  one  of 
the  sublimest  scenes  in  history.  A  cloud,  black  as  sackcloth, 
seems  to  hang  over  their  fortunes,  but  through  it  shoots  rays  of 
dazzling  brightness.  A  murmur,  like  the  first  cadences  of  a 
death-song,  heralds  their  march,  but  there  is  an  undertone  of 
strange  meaning  and  sublime  power,  for  no  outward  darkness  can 
quench  the  light  of  a  great  soul,  no  moans  of  suffering  drown  the 
language  of  a  lofty  purpose. 

Washington  Chooses  the   Site   of  the  Encampment. 

' '  The  encampment  at  Valley  Forge  was  chosen  after  much 
deliberation,  and  frequent  consultations  among  the  officers. 
Various  propositions  were  made,  but  to  each  and  all  there  were 
many  and  grave  objections.  Of  course,  the  first  and  natural  wish 
was  to  keep  the  army  in  the  field;  but  with  such  naked  troops  this 
would  be  impossible,  and  every  feeling  of  humanity  in  Washing- 


So  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

ton  revolted  from  making  the  attempt.  But  how  and  where  to 
quarter  them  seemed  equally  difficult.  It  was  proposed  to  retire 
to  the  towns  in  the  interior  of  the  state;  but  to  this  there  was  the 
two-fold  objection — that  of  inflicting  the  same  destitution  and 
suffering  on  the  inhabitants,  and  of  leaving  a  large  extent  of 
country  unprotected,  with  forage  and  stores  in  possession  of  the 
enemy.  To  distribute  the  troops  in  different  sections  would 
render  them  liable  to  be  cut  off  in  detail.  Washington,  therefore, 
determined  to  take  to  the  woods,  near  his  enemy,  and  there  hut, 
so  that  he  could  both  protect  the  country  and  his  stores,  and  also 
be  in  striking  distance  in  case  of  need. 

"  The  army  commenced  its  march  on  the  nth  of  December, 
but  did  not  reach  the  place  selected  for  the  encampment  till  the 
19th.  In  his  order  of  the  day,  dated  December  17th,  Washing- 
ton informed  the  troops  of  his  decision,  and  the  reasons  which 
urged  him  to  it.  He  also  praised  their  good  conduct  during  the 
tedious  campaign  now  closed,  declared  that  it  furnished  evidence 
that  their  cause  would  finally  triumph,  even  if  the  colonies  were 
left  alone  in  the  struggle,  but  added  that  there  was  every  reason 
to  believe  that  France  would  soon  ally  herself  openly  against  Eng- 
land. He  promised  to  share  in  the  hardships,  and  partake  of 
every  inconvenience.  The  next  day  had  been  appointed  by 
Congress  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving  and  praise.  The  army,  there- 
fore, remained  quiet  in  their  quarters,  and  divine  service  was  held 
in  the  several  corps  and  brigades,  by  the  chaplains,  and  hymns  of 
praise  and  the  voice  of  prayer  arose  there  on  the  confines  of  the 
bleak  forest,  from  men  who,  to  all  human  appearance,  had  little 
to  be  thankful  for  except  nakedness,  famine  and  frost.  The  next 
day  the  work  of  hutting  commenced.     Each  regiment  was  divided 

The  Army  Builds  Log  Cabins. 

into  parties  of  twelve,  each  party  to  make  its  own  hut,  which  was 
to  be  of  logs,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet  on  the  ground,  and  six  feet 
and  a  half  high.  The  sides  were  to  be  made  tight  with  clay,  and 
the  roof  with  split  slabs,  or  such  material  as  could  be  obtained. 
To  stimulate  the  parties  to  greater  exertion,  Washington  offered 
a  reward  of  one  dollar  to  each  man  of  that  party  which  finished 
its  hut  in  the  shortest  time  and  most  workmenlike  manner. 
Fearing  that  there  would  not  be  slabs  or  boards  sufficient  for  roof- 
ing, he  offered  a  reward,  also,  of  a  hundred  dollars  to  any  one 
who  should  substitute  some  other  covering,  that  might  be  more 
cheaply  and  quickly  made.  In  a  short  time  their  arms  were  all 
stacked,  and  with  their  axes  and  other  tools  in  their  hands,  this  army 
of  eleven  thousand  men,  with  the  exception  of  about  three  thou- 
sand who  were  unfit  for  duty,  was  scattered  through  the  woods. 
The  scene  they  presented  was  strange  and  picturesque.   There  was 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


81 


not  a  murmur  or  complaint,  and  with  laugh  and  song,  and  loud 
hallo,  they  went  about  their  allotted  toil.  The  forest  soon  rung 
with  the  strokes  of  the  axe,  and  the  rapid  and  incessant  crash  of 
falling  trees  resounded  along  the  shores  of  the  Schuylkill.  Little 
clearings  were  rapidly  made,  the  foundations  of  huts  laid,  and  a 
vast  settlement  began  to  spring  up  along  the  valleys  and  slopes  of 
the  hills.  But  here  and  there  were  scattered  groups  of  fifty  and 
hundreds,  sitting  around  huge  fires,  some  of  them  with  scarcely  a 
rag  to  cover  their  nakedness,   crouching  closely  to  the  crackling 


WIUJAM  HOWE, 

Son  of  Elijah  Howe  Jr..  uncle  of  T?lias  Howe  Jr.,    and  great  grand- 
son of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.,  born  in  Spencer  May  12.  1S03.     In- 
ventor of  the  celebrated  Howe  Truss  Bridge. 

logs  to  escape  the  piercing  December  blast;  others  sick  and  emaci- 
ated, gazing  listlessly  on  the  flames,  their  sunken  and  sallow 
visages  clearly  foretelling  what  would  be  their  fate  before  the 
winter  now  setting  in   was  over.     In  another  direction  were  seen 

Men  Harnessed  Together  Draw  Logs. 

men  harnessed  together  like  beasts  of  burden,  and  drawing  logs 
to  the  place  of  destination.  Washington's  tent  was  pitched  on 
the  brow  of  a  hill  overlooking    this  strange  spectacle.     One  after 


82  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


another  the  rude  structures  went  up,  till  a  log  city,  containing  be- 
tween one  and  two  thousand  dwellings,  stood  in  the  clearings  that 
had  been  made.  Over  the  ground  floor  straw  was  scattered,  and 
into  these  the  '  Sons  of  Libert}','  as  Colonel  Barre  had  christened 
them,  in  the  English  Parliament,  crept  to  starve  and  die.  The 
officers'  huts  were  ranged  in  lines  in  the  rear  of  those  of  the 
soldiers,  one  being  allowed  to  each  of  all  of  those  who  bore  com- 
missions, the  whole  being  surrounded  with  intrenchments.  But 
scarcely  had  the  troops  got  into  these  comfortless  houses,  when 
there  began  to  be  a  want  of  food  in  the  camp.  Congress,  with  that 
infallible  certainty  of  doing  the  wrong  thing,  had  recently,  against 
Washington's  advice,  made  a  change  in  the  quartermaster's  and 
commissary's  department,  by  which  in  this  critical  juncture,  the 
army  was  left  without  provisions.  In  the  meantime,  news  came 
that  a  large  party  of  the  enemy  was  advancing  in  the  country  to 
forage.  Washington  immediately  ordered  the  troops  to  be  in 
readiness  to  march,  when,  to  his  surprise,  he  found  that  they  were 
wholly  unable  to  stir,  for  want  of  food,  and  that  a  dangerous  mu- 
tiny had  broken  out.     The  soldiers  were  willing  to  suffer  or  die, 

Army  Without  Food. 

if  necessary,  but  they  would  not  submit  to  the  neglect  and  in- 
difference of  Congress,  which  they  knew  could  easily  relieve  their 
wants.  The  statements  made  by  the  different  officers  were  of  the 
most  alarming  kind.  General  Huntingdon  wrote  a  note  to  Wash- 
ington saying  that  his  brigade  was  out  of  provisions,  but  he  held 
it  in  readiness  to  march,  as  'fighting  was  far  preferable  to  starving.' 
General  Varnum  wrote,  also,  saying  that  his  division  had  been 
two  days  without  meat,  and  three  days  without  bread,  and  that 
the  men  must  be  supplied,  or  they  could  not  be  commanded;  still 
they  were  ready  to  march,  as  any  change  was  better  than  slow 
starvation.  On  inquiry  there  was  found  only  one  purchasing 
commissary  in  camp,  and  he  made  the  frightful  report  of  not  a 
'single  hoof  of  any  kind  to  slaughter,  and  not  more  than  twenty- 
five  barrels  of  flour'  to  the  whole  army.  Only  small  detachments, 
therefore,  could  be  sent  out.  These  hovered  about  the  enemy, 
now  bursting  on  a  small  party  from  some  forest,  and  again  sur- 
rounding the  dwelling  where  they  were  reposing.  The  weather 
came  on  intensely  cold,  and  the  soldiers  could  hardly  handle  their 
muskets  with  their  stiffened  fingers.  They  rarely  entered  a  house, 
and  dared  not  kindle  a  fire  at  night,  lest  it  should  reveal  their 
position  to  the  enemy. 

Great  Suffering  in  the  Camp. 

"  Thus  for  a  week,  they  kept  marching  and  skirmishing,  till 
the  enemy  withdrew  to  Philadelphia,  when  they  returned  to  camp,, 
having  collected  but  little  forage.      Here  suffering  and  want  were 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


83 


fast  bringing  things  to  a  crisis.  The  soldiers  were  at  first  satisfied 
with  the  excuse  given  for  the  delay  of  provisions,  viz:  that  the 
rains  had  made  the  roads  almost  impassable.  But  day  after  day 
passing  without  relief,  they  began  to  complain,  and  soon  their 
murmurs  swelled  to  loud  clamors  and  threats.  First  the  different 
regiments  began  to  assemble,  and  the  excitement  increasing, 
whole  brigades  and  divisions  gathered  together  without  order,  and 
against  the  commands  of  their  officers.  The  latter  did  not  attempt 
to  enforce  obedience,  but  spoke  kindly  to  them,  saying  that  Wash- 


MONUMENT  TO  EUAS  HOWE  JR.  AND  GROUNDS  IN  PUBLIC  PARK  AT 
BRIDGEPORT,  CONN. 

ington  was  aware  of  their  suffering  condition,  that  it  grieved  him 
to  the  heart,  and  he  was  straining  every  nerve  to  obtain  relief. 
Washington  himself  exhorted  them  to  be  obedient,  saying  that 
provisions  would  soon  be  in  camp,  and  insubordination  could 
result  only  in  evil.  The  soldiers,  in  return,  were  calm  and  re- 
spectful. They  told  him  they  knew  that  their  conduct  was  muti- 
nous, but  their  condition  justified  it.  They  were  actually  starv- 
ing, and  relief  must  be  had.  They  then  respectfully  communicated 
to  him  their  fixed  determination,  which  was  to  march  in  an  orderly 
manner  into  the  country,  seize  provisions  wherever  they  could  lay 
hands  on  them,  giving  in  return  certificates  as  to  the  amount  and 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

value  of  the  articles  taken,  and  then  return  to  camp,  and  to  their 
duty.  Never  before  was  there  a  mutiny  so  devoid  of  crime,  and 
which,  in  fact,  partook  of  the  moral  sublime.  Their  language 
was:  '  We  are  starving  here,  and  shall  soon  be  of  no  service  to 
you  or  our  country.  We  love  you  and  the  cause  in  which  we  are 
embarked.  We  will  stand  by  you  at  all  hazards,  and  defend  with 
our  last  drop  of  blood  our  common  country,  but  food  we  must  and 

Washington    Overcome    by    the     Suffering    of    the 

Soldiers. 

will  have.'  Washington  was  overcome  by  the  condition  and 
conduct  of  these  men.  So  self-sustained  in  their  sufferings — so 
constant  to  him  in  their  destitution — so  firm  for  their  country, 
though  abandoned  by  Congress,  their  language  and  attitude 
moved  him  deeply.  There  was  something  inexpressibly  touching 
in  the  noble  regret  they  manifested  for  appearing  to  be  disobe- 
dient, and  the  high,  manly  grounds  on  which  they  defended  their 
conduct.  Washington,  in  reply,  told  them  that  he  was  well  aware 
of  the  sufferings  of  his  faithful  soldiers.  He  had  long  admired 
their  patience  and  resignation,  and  devotion  to  their  county,  un- 
der the  most  trying  circumstances,  and  if  the  provisions  did  not 
arrive  by  a  specified  hour,  he  would  place  himself  at  their  head, 
and  march  into  the  country  till  they  were  found.  To  this  they 
consented,  but  the  promised  supplies  arriving  before  the  time 
fixed  had  expired,  quietness  and  subordination  were  restored,  and 
a  movement,  the  results  of  which  could  not  be  forseen,  prevented. 
"This  supply,  however,  was  soon  exhausted,  and  then  the 
same  scenes  of  suffering  were  repeated.  Nearly  all  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  vicinity  of  Valley  Forge  were  Tories,  and  hence  with- 
held the  food  they  could  have  furnished.  Finding  that  neither 
offers  of  pay  nor  threats  could  wring  it  from  them,  Washington, 
acting  under  a  resolution  of  Congress,  issued  a  proclamation  in 
which  he  ordered  all  the  farmers  within  seventy  miles  of  Valley 
Forge,  to  thresh  out  half  their  grain  by  the  first  of  February,  and 
the  other  half  by  the  first  of  March,  under  penalty  of  having  the 
whole  seized  as  straw.  The  Tories  refused  to  comply,  and  many 
of  them  defended  their  barns  and  stacks  with  firearms.  Some, 
unable  to  do  this,  set  fire  to  their  grain,  to  prevent  its  falling  into 
the  hands  of  the  Americans.     The  soldiers  turned  themselves  into 

Soldiers  Make  Pack-horses  of  Themselves. 

pack-horses,  yoked  themselves  to  wagons  and  shrunk  from  no  la- 
bor required  to  bring  in  provisions.  But  all  the  efforts  and  inge- 
nuity of  Washington  could  not  prevent  the  gaunt  figure  of  famine 
from  stalking  through  his  camp.     Horses  died  for  want  of  forage, 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


85 


and  the  men  became  so  reduced  that  scarcely  enough  could  be 
found  fit  '  to  discharge  the  military  camp  duties  from  day  to 
day  ; '  and  even  these  few  were  compelled  to  borrow  clothes  to 
cover  their  nakedness  while  performing  them. 

"  A  week  passed  without  a  pound  of  flesh  being  brought  into 
camp,  and  at  last  the  bread  gave  out,  and  for  several  days  the 


ALPHONZO  HOWE, 

Son  of  Elijah  Howe,  Jr.,  uncle  of  Elias,  Howe  Jr.,  and  great  grand- 
son of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.,  born  in  Spencer  July  3,  1805.     Died 
at  Brookfield.      Father  of  John  M.  Howe  and  Mrs. 
Frank  A.  Smith. 

starving  soldiers  had  not  a  morsel  to  eat.  Heavy  snowstorms, 
followed  by  excessive  frosts,  swelled  the  sufferings  that  before 
had  seemed  unbearable.      So  few  blankets  had  been  supplied  that 


86  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER   HISTORY. 


the  benumbed  soldiers  were  compelled  to  sleep  sitting  around  their 
fires,  to  prevent  freezing.  Many  were  so  naked  that  they  could 
not  show  themselves  outside  of  their  huts,  but  hid  shivering  away 
in  the  scanty  straw.  Others  would  flit  from  hut  to  hut,  with 
only  a  blanket  to  cover  their  otherwise  naked  forms.  These  huts, 
half  closed  up  with  snow,  and  the  men  wading  around  in  their 
rags  to  beat  paths,  presented  a  singular  spectacle  of  a  bright  wintry 
morning.  In  the  midst  of  this  accumulation  of  woes,  the  small- 
Small  Pox  Breaks  Out. 

pox  broke  out,  and  Washington  was  compelled  to  resort  to  inocu- 
lation to  prevent  the  severe  ravages  of  the  disease.  The  sick,  in 
consequence,  were  everywhere,  and  without  blankets  or  provisions 
and  hospital  stores,  and  stretched  on  the  earth  wet  and  frosty,  by 
turns,  presented  a  scene  of  woe  and  wretchedness  that  beggars 
description.  Starvation  and  despair  will  in  the  end  demoralize 
the  noblest  army  that  ever  defended  a  holy  cause,  and  they  at 
length  began  to  tell  on  this  band  of  patriots.  A  foreign  officer, 
in  walking  through  the  encampment  one  day  with  Washington, 
heard  through  the  crevices  of  the  huts  as  he  passed,  men  half 
naked  muttering,  "  No  pay,  no  clothes,  no  rum."  Then  he  said 
he  despaired  of  American  liberty.  Had  Howe  been  made  aware 
of  this  deplorable  state  of  the  army,  he  could  have  with  a  single 
blow  crushed  it  to  atoms.  Amid  this  woe  and  suffering,  Wash- 
ington moved  with  a  calm  mien  but  a  breaking  heart.  The  pite- 
ous looks  and  haggard  appearance  of  his  poor  soldiers — the  con- 
sciousness that  his  army  was  powerless  to  resent  any  attack  of  the 
enemy,  nay,  on  the  point  of  dissolution,  never  probably  to  be 
reunited,  all  combined  to  press  him  so  heavily  with  care,  that  even 
he  must  have  sunk  under  it  had  he  not  put  his  trust  in  a  higher 
power  than  man.  One  day  a  Quaker,  by  the  name  of  Potts,  was 
strolling  up  a  creek,  when  he  heard,  in  a  secluded  spot,  the  voice 

Washington  Offers  Prayer. 

of  some  one  apparently  engaged  in  prayer.  Stealing  quietly  for- 
ward, he  saw  Washington's  horse  tied  to  a  sapling,  and  a  little 
further  on,  in  a  thicket,  the  chief  himself,  on  his  knees,  and  with 
tears  streaming  down  his  cheeks,  beseeching  Heaven  for  his  coun- 
try and  his  army.  Before  God  alone,  that  strong  heart  gave  way, 
and  poured  forth  the  full  tide  of  its  griefs  and  anxieties.  Though 
the  heavens  grew  dark  around  him,  and  disaster  after  disaster 
wrecked  his  brightest  hopes,  and  despair  settled  down  on  officers 
and  men,  he  showed  the  same  unalterable  presence — moved,  the 
same  tower  of  strength.  But  to  his  God  he  could  safely  go  with 
his  troubles,  and  on  that  arm  securely  lean.      How  sublime  does 


SAMUEL    BEMIS 


87 


he  appear,  and  how  good  and  holy  the  cause  he  was  engaged  in 
seems,  as  he  thus  carries  it  to  the  throne  of  a  just  God,  feeling 
that  it  has  His  sanction  and  can  claim  His  protection. 

"The  poor  man  who   had  witnessed  this  spectacle  hurried 
home,  and  on  opening  the  door  of  his  house  burst  into  tears.    His 


ancient;chestnut  tree. 

This  cut  illustrates  an  ancient  Chestnut  tree,  about  seven  feet 
in  diameter,  now  standing  on  the  farm  of 
John  M.  Newton. 

wife,  amazed,  inquired  what  was  the  matter  with  him.  He  told 
her  what  he  had  seen,  and  added,  "  If  there  is  any  one  on  this 
earth  whom  the  Lord  will  listen  to,  it  is  George  Washington,  and 


88  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

I  feel  a  presentiment  that  under  such  a  commander,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  of  our  eventually  establishing  our  independence,  and 
that  God  in  His  providence  has  willed  it  so.' 

"No  wonder  peace  sat  enthroned  on  that  brow  when  despair 
clouded  all  others. 

"  In  February  his  wife  joined  him,  and  as  the  two  walked 
through  the  wretched  camp,  even  the  half-starved  and  mutinous 
soldier  raised  his  head  to  bless  them,  and  from  many  a  pallid  lip 
fell  the  '  Long  live  Washington,'  as  his  tall  form  darkened  the 
door  of  the  hovel. 

Washington    Asserted    That    History    Furnished   no 

Parallel. 

"  Washington  boldly  asserted  that  history  could  not  furnish 
another  instance  of  any  army  '  suffering  such  uncommon  hard- 
ships, and  bearing  them  with  the  same  patience  and  fortitude. 
To  see  men,'  said  he,  'without  clothes^to  cover  their  nakedness, 
without  blankets  to  lie  on,  without  shoes,  for  the  want  of  which 
their  marches  might  be  traced  by  the  blood  from  their  feet — and 
almost  as  often  without  provisions  as  with  them,  marching  through 
frost  and  snow,  and  at  Christmas  taking  up  their  winter-quarters 
within  a  day's  march  of  the  enemy,  without  a  house  or  hut  to 
cover  them  till  they  could  be  built,  and  submitting  without  a  mur- 
mur, is  a  proof  of  patience  and  obedience  which,  in  my  opinion, 
can  scarcely  be  paralleled.'  " 

The  Patriotic  Spencer  Men  Deserving  of  Honor. 

These  men  at  Valley  Forge,  these  men  from  Spencer,  these 
men  from  the  Bemis  household,  we  honor  today  and  they  are  as 
deserving  of  honor  as  they  were  the  equals  in  valor  of  the  immor- 
tal six  hundred  in  the  charge  at  Balaklava,  or  that  heroic  band  of 
Grecians  whoso  valiantly  contested  the  pass  at  Thermopylae,  and  it 
is  surely  not  too  much  to  hope,  that  ere  long  a  monument  to  their 
memory  shall  be  erected  at  Bemis  Memorial  Park,  by  their  descend- 
ants in  appreciation  of  their  patriotism. 

The  record  says  of  these  three  soldiers  of  the  Bemis  name, 
that  they  enlisted."  for  the  Town  of  Spencer  "  and  "  for  the  war. " 
They  went  to  fight  until  the  end  came,  be  the  war  a  long  or  a 
short  one.  They  went,  not  only  for  the  town  of  Spencer  but  to 
maintain  the  honor  .of  the  Bemis  name  won  by  their  fathers, 
Edmund  and  Jonas  in  the  Colonial  wars.  They  went  in  behalf  of 
their  homes  and  their  kindred.  They  went  in  behalf  of  them- 
selves, and  to  contend  for  principles  as  dear  to  them  as  life  itself. 
And  they  were  not  dismayed  by  obstacles.  They  were  there  to 
overcome  them.  Their  forefathers  who  had  subdued  the  Indian, 
the  wild  beast  and  the  wilderness,  had  gained  by  practice  the 
habit  of  overcoming,  and  these  qualities  had  been  transmitted  to 


SAMUEL   BEMIS. 


89 


their  children,  and  had  become  so  firmly  established  in  their 
natures  that  to  have  acted  contrary  to  them,  would  have  been  to 
have  denied  action  to  their  strongest  traits  of  character.  And 
these  qualities  prevailed  not  with  them  alone,  but  throughout  the 
native  husbandry  of  New  England.  And  so  they,  with  others, 
contended  daily,  monthly,  yearly,  with  obstacles  and  adverse  cir- 
cumstances  until   the  Continental  Army  was  victorious.      They 


ORIGINAL,  HOUSE  BUILT  BY  CAPT.  EDMUND  BEMIS. 

When  he  settled  on  Lot  So,  and  where  he  lived  and  died.     This  house   which  is  now  stand- 
ing, was  known   for  a  long  time  as  the  Austin  Lamb  place. 

honored  themselves  and  their  ancestry  by  their  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Liberty,  and  you,  descendants  of  these  men,  will  honor 
yourselves  in  proportion  as  you  honor  them  for  their  acts  of  love 
and  self-sacrifice. 

The  Bemis  Family  as  Town  Officers. 

It  should  be  a  cause  for  just  pride  to  the  Bemis  family  to 
know  that  they  have  averaged  to  furnish  for  some  important  town 
office,  more  than  one  representatve  per  year  since  1753.  The 
following  is  a  complete  list  of  those  who  have  held  such  town  offi- 
ces from  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of  Spencer  in 
1753  to  1901,  148  years. 

_  ,  Total  years 

Selectmen.  of  service. 

Bemis,  Samuel  Jr.,       1756-7-8-60.  4 

Bemis,  Edmund,  1759-  x 


90 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


•Selectmen. 

Total  years 

of 

services. 

Bemis,  William  Sr., 

1754-5-6-7-8-9.  1772-3-4-7-8 

1 1 

Bemis,  Benjamin, 

1784-5-6 

3 

Bemis,  Jonas, 

1798-9,  1800-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 

1 1 

Bemis,  David  Sr., 

i8or-2-3 

3 

Bemis,  Joshua  Sr. , 

1809-14-16-17 

4 

Bemis,  William  Jr., 

1814-20-1-3-3-4-5-30-1 

9 

Bemis,  Joshua  Jr., 

1860-1-2-70 

4 

Bemis  Henry, 

1870-1-2-3 

4 

Bemis,  David  Jr., 

1865-6 

2 

Committee  of 

Correspondence: 

Bemis,  Benjamin, 

1780 

1 

Representatives: 

Bemis,  William, 

1820 

1 

Bemis,  Lewis, 

1834-5 

2 

Treasurer: 

Bemis,  Lewis, 

1826-7-8-9 

4 

Town  Clerks: 

Bemis,  Samuel  Jr. , 

1757-8-9-60 

4 

Bemis,  Benjamin, 

1781-2-6 

3 

Bemis,  Lewis, 

1831-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-40-1 

1 1 

Assessors: 

Bemis,  Edmund, 

1 758-9-60- 1 

4 

Bemis,  William, 

1763-4 

2 

Bemis,  Benjamin, 

1785 

1 

Bemis,  Jonas, 

1793.  l8i5 

2 

Bemis,  William  Jr., 

1801-3-4-5-6-13-21-27-31-2 

10 

Bemis,  Silas, 

1 809-13-14 

3 

Bemis,  David, 

1841-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-50-1-2-5 

6-7-8 

9-60-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-S-9-70-1  -2 

-3-4-5 

6-7-S-9 

36 

Bemis  Cheney, 

1890 

1 

Bemis,  Henry  W., 

1892-4-5-6-7 

5  ' 

Bemis,  William  M., 

1882 

1 

Overseer  of  Poor: 

Bemis,  Henry  W., 

1870-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 

10 

Road  Commissioner: 

Bemis,  Lewis  D., 

1894-5-6,  1901 

4 

162 


Total  years,          ....... 

The  Bemis  Religious  Sentiment. 

It  is  not  clear  how  the  earlier  generations  of  the  Bemis  family 
regarded  the  question  of  religion,  but  it  is  certain  they  were  not 
to  any  great  degree  church  members.  With  the  single  statement 
by  Draper  that  Jonas  Bemis  Sr.  was  a  Baptist,  no  record  has  been 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


91 


found  indicating  that  any  male  descendant  of  Samuel  Bemis  was 
a  member  of  a  church  prior  to  1800.  At  the  same  time  they  ap- 
pear to  have  been  a  church-going  people.  It  is  remembered  by 
some  of  our  oldest  citizens  that  Rev.  Levi  Packard,  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church,  one  Sabbath,  about  the  year  1845,  from  the 
pulpit  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  there  were  a  large  number  of 
citizens  in  the  town  bearing  the  Bemis  name,  "  not  a  single  one  of 
whom,"   said   he,  "  is  or  ever  has  been   a  communicant  of  our 


®C 


-vj/-' 

_ 


HOWE'S  FIRST  SEWING  MACHINE. 

This  is  a  picture  of  the  first  sewing  machine  made  by 

Elias   Howe  Jr.,   with   a  capacity  of    about   300 

stitches  per  minute  or  eight  "times  faster 

than  the  most  skilful  sewers  by 

hand. 

church."  Before  this  time,  however,  some  had  joined  the  Bap- 
tist and  Methodist  churches  as  communicants  and  quite  a  number 
different  parishes  and  societies,  the  names  of  which  are  herewith 
presented.       ' 

Prior  to  1800  the  Bemis  family  were  represented  in  the  Con- 
gregational church  by  four  women  only  : 

Name.  Date  of  Joining.  Name.  Date  of  Joining. 

Bemis,  Dinah,  Aug.  23,    1752      Bemis,  Rebekah,  July  5,  1755 
Bemis,  Mary,     May    — ,    1759      Bemis,  Sibbilah,  Apr.  17,  1785 
Members  from  1800  to  date: 
Name.  Date  of  Joining.  Name.  Date  of  Joining. 

Bemis,  Mary  1800  Bemis,  Wm.  M.  1867 

emis,  Polly  18 13  Bemis,  Phcebe  Anna 


92 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Name 

Date  of  Joining. 

Name.             Date  of  Joining. 

Bemis, 

Mary 

1827 

Bemis, 

Dolly  Ann 

1867 

Bemis, 

Catherine 

' ' 

Bemis, 

Emily  P. 

" 

Bemis, 

Maria 

1334 

Bemis, 

Caroline  A. 

1884 

Bemis, 

Lydia 

1836 

Bemis, 

Hattie  W. 

1885 

Bemis, 

Abigail 

1838 

Bemis, 

Alonzo  A. 

1889 

Bemis, 

Mary  L. 

1839 

Bemis, 

Nellie  T. 

" 

Bemis, 

Eunice 

1843 

Bemis, 

Anna  Julia 

1894 

Bemis, 

Nancy 

1846 

Bemis, 

Bertha  E. 

1896 

Bemis, 

Mary  L. 

1846 

Bemis, 

Clifton  A. 

1898 

Bemis, 

Janette 

1858 

Bemis, 

Eva  M. 

" 

Bemis, 

Chas.  W. 

1866 

Bemis, 

Edson  C. 

<  i 

Members  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  having  a  place  of  wor- 
ship at  North  Spencer: 

Name.  Date  of  Joining. 

Bemis,  Catherine,  1819 

Bemis,  Amos,  1820 

Bemis,  Huldah,  1822 

Bemis,  Sarah,  1836 

Bemis,  Selah,  1844 

Bemis,  Mrs.  Hiram  P.,    1861 
Bemis,  Edson,  1861. 


Name 

Date  of  Joining, 

Bemis, 

Polly,                    1819 

Bemis, 

Abigail,               1820 

Bemis, 

Lucretia,             1820 

Bemis, 

Mary,                  1830 

Bemis, 

Ruth,                   1 84 1 

Bemis, 

Hiram  P.,           1859 

Members  of  Baptist  church  in  Spencer  village  : 


Name. 
Bemis,  George  H., 
Bemis,  Pamelia  W., 


Bemis,  Mabel. 


Name. 
Bemis,  Hattie  Rowena, 
Bemis,  Waldo  L., 


Members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 


Name. 
Bemis,  Amos, 
Bemis,  Charles  E., 
Bemis,  Effie  L., 
Bemis,  Elbridge  S., 
Bemis,  Emily  W., 


Name. 
Bemis,  Huldah, 
Bemis,  Julia  A., 
Bemis,  Mary  A., 
Bemis,  Nellie  F., 
Bemis,  Tennyson  O. 


Many  of  the  Bemis  family  besides  the  above  attended  this 
church  but  were  not  members.  Foster  Bemis  came  here  with  his 
family,  before  his  removal  West  in  1855,  and  when  the  church 
was  built  in  1847  contributed  the  chestnut  sills  and  joists 
which  were  cut  on  Bemis  Hill,   which  he  then  owned,  and  were 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


93 


sawed  at  the  Sumner  saw-mill  where  Theodore  J.  Bemis  now  has 
a  grist-mill. 

Members  of  Spencer  Universalist  church  : 

Name.  Name. 

Bemis,  Clara,  Bemis,  Elizabeth, 

Bemis,  Edna,  Bemis,  Emeline, 

Bemis,  Fannie, 
In  1798  a  Baptist  church  was  built  on  the  hill  in  Brookfield, 
west  of  the  Lewis  D.  Howland  place  and  east  of  where  Henry  A. 


ELBRIDGE  HOWE, 
Son  of  Elijah  Howe  Jr.,  uncle  of  Elias  Howe  Jr.,  and  great  grand- 
son of  Samuel   Bemis  Sr.     Born   in  Spencer  March  6,  1810. 
Removed  to  Chester,  Mass. 


94 


SKETCHES    O  F   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Woodis  now  lives.  This  was  quite  largely  attended  by  the  Bemis 
families  of  Spencer,  and  Nathaniel  Bemis  Jr.  occupied  the  highest 
priced  pew  in  the  church. 

In  addition  to  the  above  it  has  been  ascertained  that  William 
Bemis  joined  the  First  Baptist  society  of  Spencer,  April  28,  1825; 
David  Bemis  2d  joined  the  same  society  April  18,  1829.  Frank- 
lin and  Sylvanus  Bemis  joined  the  Universalist  society  of  Charlton 
March,  1827.  Joshua  Bemis  Jr.  joined  the  Second  Universalist 
society  of  Brookfield  and  Charlton  February  17,  1820  ;  and  Alpha 
Bemis  joined  the  First  Universalist  society  of  Sturbridge  and 
Spencer  in  1820. 

The  Bemis  Family  as  Advocates  of  Temperance. 

At  the  time  of  the  Washingtonian  temperance  movement  in 
Spencer,  from  1841  to  1852,  there  were  over  five  hundred  persons 
who  became  members  of  that  society,  of  which  number  the  Bemis 
family  furnished  nearly  ten  per  cent.,  as  follows  : 


Name. 
Bemis,  Alpha, 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 
Bemis 


Amos, 
Arsenath, 
Caroline, 
Caroline  M.. 
Chandler, 
Clarissa  L. , 
Cynthia, 
Cynthia  A., 
Danforth, 
Dexter, 
Dolly  Ann, 
Edwin, 
Edwin  A., 
Edwin  P., 
Eliza, 
Ellen, 
Emehne, 
Eunice  W., 
George  A., 
Hulda, 


Name. 
Bemis,  Harriet  E., 
Bemis,  John  Emmons, 
Bemis,  Laura, 
Bemis,  Lewis, 
Bemis,  Lewis  W., 
Bemis,  Lorenzo, 
Bemis,  Louisa, 
Bemis,  Lucinda, 
Bemis,  Lucy, 
Bemis,  Marv. 
Bemis,  Mary  L-, 
Bemis,  Nancy, 
Bemis,  Rebekah, 
Bemis,  Ruth  B., 
Bemis,  Selah, 
Bemis,  Susan, 
Bemis,  Thomas  R., 
Bemis,  William, 
Bemis,  William  2d, 
Bemis,  William  Jr., 
Bemis,  William  O., 


The  Distinguished  Howe  Family. 

Time  will  not  permit  rehearsing  today  all  the  worthy  deeds 
that  might  be  mentioned  which  have  been  performed  by 
those  of  the  Bemis  name  nor  all  the  historical  items  of  interest 
concerning  this  family,  could  they  be  collated,  but  this  paper 
would  be  incomplete  if  time  was  not  taken  to  mention  the  achieve- 
ments of  one  family  who  were  lineal  descendants  of  Samuel  Bemis 


SAMUEL   BEMIS. 


95 


Sr.,  and  who  by  their  inventions  have  made  themselves,  as  well 
as  Spencer  famous,  and  this  is  the  Howe  family.  What  the 
Bemis  family  have  been  able  to  do  in  the  way  of  gaining  a 
good  reputation  for  themselves  in  a  country  town,  the 
Howe  family  have    accomplished    on    a  scale  that  embraces  the 


TYLER  HOWE, 

Inventor  of  the  spring  bed  and   great  grandson  of  Samuel   Eemis  Sr.;  born  in   Spencer 
Aug.  ii,  1S00;  died  in  Cambridge,  June  9,  1880. 

world;  and  wherever  civilization  has  gone,  there  the  Howe  name  is 
known  and  honored.  It  is  therefore  peculiarly  appropriate  that 
we  ascertain  what  they  did  of  so  great  value  to  the  world  as  to 
receive  its  homage.  The  names  of  these  men,  a  trio  of  inventors, 
are  Tyler  and  William  Howe,  sons  of  Elijah  Howe  Jr.,    and  their 


96 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


nephew,  Elias  Howe  Jr.,  son  of  their  brother  Elias,  all  born  at 
the  old  homestead  now  standing  opposite  Howe's  mills  in  the 
south  part  of  Spencer.       So  far  as  the  ties  of  blood  are  concerned, 


Tyler  and  William  Howe  were  half  Howe  and  hal  f  Bemis,  while 
Elias  Howe  Jr.  was  three-fourths  Bemis  and  one -fourth  Howe, 
according  to  the  laws  of  consanguinity.  This  is  not  said  with  a 
view  of  trying  to  pluck  any  laurels  from  the  Howe  name,  but  only 
to  show  that  whatever  honors  the  Howe  family  are  justly  entitled 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  97 

to,  the  Bemis  family,  on  the  ground  of  relationship,  can,  if  they 
will,  appropriate  their  full  share  Tyler  Howe  was  the  inventor 
of  the  spring  bed.  He  went  to  California  in  search  of  gold  in 
1849  and  returned  the  year  following.  The  hardness  of  his  bunk 
on  board  the  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  was  daily  a  source  of  an- 
noyance, for  which,  in  the  realms  unseen,  he  sought  a  remedy. 
At  last  a  picture  of  what  he  desired  presented  itself  to  his 
mind  and  the  difficulty  was  solved.  He  patented  his  invention  in 
1855  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of  the  patented  articles, 
which,  finding  a  ready  sale,  enabled  him  to  amass  a  comfortable 
fortune.  While  today  the  varieties  of  spring  beds  are  legion,  he 
was  the  man  who  conceived  the  initial  idea  and  carried  it  forward 
to  demonstration. 

William  Howe  was  the  inventor  of  the  truss  bridge.       When 
the  New  York  Central  R.   R.,  now  passing  through  Spencer,   was 


The  Old  Howe  Homestead, 

At  Howe's  Mills,  Spencer,  Mass.,  cut  of  which  is  shown  on  opposite  page,  is  where  were 
born  William,  Tyler,  Elias,  Elbridge,  Alphonzoand  Hiram,  sons  of  Elijah  Howe,  Sr  ,  and 
Elias  Howe,  Jr.,  inventor  of  the  sewing  machine.  This  engraving  is  from  an  oil  painting 
in  the  Spencer  Museum,  made  by  W.  O.  Bemis  of  the  Paxton  branch  of  the  Bemis  family. 
In  1S74,  the  author,  being  at  that  time  a  trustee  of  the  museum  and  active  in  soliciting  arti- 
cles for  the  same,  saw  the  late  W.  O  Bemis  and  secured  his  kindly  interest  in  painting  and 
donating  the  picture  reproduced  above.  This  is  the  best  illustration  of  the  Howe  home- 
stead extant,  and  is  a  remarkably  faithful  painting  of  the  old  historic  house  and  surround- 
ings as  they  were  twenty-seven  years  ago.  This  picture  is  one  of  the  most  valuable,  an 
well  as  valued,  keepsakes  in  the  museum. 


built  under  the  name  of  the  Western  R.  R.,  it  was  a"t  first  only 
projected  from  Worcester  to  Springfield,  with  Albany  as  the  final 
termination,  but  no  engineer  of  that  time  knew  how  the  Connecti- 
cut river  at  Springfield  was  to  be  bridged.  This  problem  Wm. 
Howe  undertook  to  solve,  and  succeeded  in  solving  it  to  the 
appreciation  of  all  the  noted  engineers  of  that  date.  It  is 
said  by  some  that  he  borrowed  the  idea  from  a  truss  supporting  a 
roof  in  an  old  church  at  Brookfield.  Whether  this  be  true  or  not 
cannot  now  be  determined,  but  it  is  certain  that  his  bridge  was 
a  new  and  novel  way  to  span  rivers  and  marked  a  new  era  in 
bridge  construction. 

Improvements  have  been  made  in  bridge  building  since  his 
time  and  iron  has  largely  superseded  wood,  but  the  principle  of 
trussed  work,  discovered  by  William  Howe,  bids  fair  never  to  be 
superseded.  To  illustrate  the  market  value  of  his  invention,  it  is 
recorded  that  a  few  years  after  the  Connecticut  river  bridge  had 
been  built,  he  sold  the  right  to  build  such  bridges  in  several  of  the 
Western  states  for  sixty  thousand  dollars.  The  original  drawings 
for  his  truss  work  were  all  made  in  Spencer,  on  the  plaster  walls 


98  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


of  the  hallways  in  the  old  Tavern,  which  stood  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Baptist  church  and  Denny  Hall  school  building,  and  there 
they  remained  until  the  building  was  torn  down  some  thirty  years 
ago. 

Elias  Howe  Jr.  was  the  inventor  of  the  sewing  machine. 
This  is  so  familiar  a  sentence  that  time  need  not  be  taken  to  des- 
cribe his  invention  in  detail.  The  machine  he  devised  was  a  suc- 
cess from  the  beginning.  He  was  the  man  who  discovered  that 
the  needle  must  have  an  eye  near  its  point  in  order  to  make  a 
stitch  that  would  not  rip,  and  all  makers  of  machines  since  his  day 


EUAS  HOWE   JR., 

Inventor  of  the  sewing  machine;  born   in    Spen- 
cer, July  g,  1819;  great  grandson  of 
Samuel    Bemis   Sr. 

have  been  obliged  to  adopt  his  method  simply  because  there  was 
no  other  way  to  do.  James  Parton,  the  distinguished  writer,  said: 
"Elias  Howe  can  justly  claim  that  it  was  his  invention  which  ena- 
bled the  United  States  to  put  and  keep  a  million  men  in  the  field 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  Those  countless  garments,  tents, 
haversacks,  cartridge  boxes,  shoes,  blankets,  sails;  how  could 
they  have  been  produced  without  the  sewing  machine?  One  day 
during  the  war  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  an  order  from  the 
War  Department  reached  New  York  by  telegraph  for  fifty  thous- 
and sand  bags  such  as  are  used  in  field  works.  By  two  o'clock 
the  next  afternoon  the  bags  had  been  made,  packed,  shipped  and 
started  southward."     In  i860,  a  statistician  of  repute  made  a  care- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS.  99 

ful  computation,  and  his  figures  showed  an  annual  saving  to  the 
United  States  alone  of  nineteen  million  dollars  by  the  use  of  the 
sewing  machine.  It  is  also  estimated  that  on  an  average  every 
adult  in  the  country  fifty  years  of  age  is  indebted  at  least  two 
hundred  dollars  to  Elias  Howe's  invention.  If,  then,  there  is 
reason  to  think  well  of  a  man  who  contributes  two  hundred  dol- 
lars towards  his  neighbor's  expenses,  a  man  certainly  should  be 
well  thought  of  and  respected  who  devises  means  whereby  his 
neighbor,  if  he  will,  may  yearly  add  to  his  bank  account  sums  of 
money  he  could  not  otherwise  have  done. 

Col.  Draper  in  his  book  "The  Bemis  Family  in  America" 
tells  an  interesting  story  how  Elias  Howe  Jr.  discovered  where 
to  place  the  needle's  eye.  He  says:  "He  almost  beggared  himselt 
before  he  discovered  where  the  eve  of  the  needle  should  be  located. 


PICTURE  OF  CLOTH  SEWED  ON  FIRST  SEWING  MACHINE. 

One  of  the  first  articles  sewed  together  on  the  Elias  Howe, 
Jr.,  sewing  machine   by   the   inventor  were  two   strips 
of  broadcloth.     This  was  cut  into  pieces  and  distri- 
buted among  his  uncles.      Alphonzo   Howe   had 
the  piece  from  which  the  above  cut  was  tak- 
en  and   it   is   now   in    possession  of   his 
daughter,  Mrs.   Frank    A.    Smith  of 
Worcester. 

It  is  probable  there  are  but  a  very  few  persons  who  know  how  it 
came  about.  His  original  idea  was  to  follow  the  model  of  the 
ordinary  needle  and  have  the  eye  at  the  heel.  It  never  occurred 
to  him  that  it  should  be  placed  near  the  point  and  he  might  have 
failed  altogether  if  he  had  not  dreamed  he  was  building  a  sewing 
machine  for  a  savage  king  in  a  strange  country.  Just  as  in  his 
actual  waking  experience  he  was  perplexed  about  the  needle's  eye. 
He  thought  the  King  gave  him  twenty-four  hours  in  which  to 
complete  the  machine  and  make  it  sew.  If  not  finished  in  that 
time,  death  was  to  be  the  punishment.  Howe  worked  and  worked 
and  puzzled;  finally  gave  it  up.  Then  he  thought  he  was  taken 
out  to  be  executed.  He  noticed  that  the  warriors  carried  spears 
that  were  pierced  near  the  head.  Instantly  came  the  solution  of 
the  difficulty,  and  while  the  inventor  was  begging  for  time  he 
awoke.  It  was  four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  He  jumped  out  of 
bed,  ran  to  his  workshop  and  by  nine  a  needle  with  an  eye  at  the 
point  had  been  rudely  modeled.      After  that  it  was  easy.     That  is 


IOO 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


the  true  story  of  an  important  incident  in   the  invention  of  the 
sewing  machine." 

Last  year  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on  the  beautiful  University 
Heights  overlooking  the  Harlem  and  Hudson  rivers,  and  in  full 
view  of  the  famous  Palisades,  was  dedicated  the  "  Hall  of  Fame  for 
great  Americans,"  an  elegant  fireproof  structure  designed  to  last 
for  ages.  In  this  building  one  hundred  and  fifty  places  had  been 
provided  as  a  national  abiding  place  for  memorials  commemorating 
the  deeds  and  virtues  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  who  had 


MRS.  IA'DIA  HOWE  LUKE, 

Daughter  of  Tyler  Howe,  a  resident  of  West    Newton  and    a   gener- 
ous contributor  to  the  Samuel  Bemis  monument  fund. 

rendered  their  country,  or  the  world,  distinguished  service.  By 
agreement  those  places  could  not  all  be  filled  before  the  year  2000. 
Before  the  dedication,  a  committee  of  one  hundred  able  men  of  inde- 
pendent judgment,  including  such  men  as  Pres.  Eliot  of  Harvard 
College,  Pres.  White  of  Cornell  University,  the  Judges  of  the  U. 
S.  Supreme  Court,  eminent  historians,  Chief  Justices  of  the  Su- 
preme Courts  in  every  state,  and  others  equally  distinguished  for 
judicial  qualities  of  mind — voted  singly  in  their  own  respective 
places  of  abode  on  a  list  of  names  thought  worthy  of  admittance 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


IOI 


to  this  Hall,  and  which  had  been  placed  in  nomination  by  the 
American  public.  It  had  been  agreed  that  fifty  names  might  be 
selected  in  the  year   1900  and  from  thence  on  five  names  at  the 


EUAS  HOWE  SR., 

Son  of  Elijah  Howe,  Jr.,  and   great   grandson  of- Samuel  Bemis  Sr., 
Born  in  Spencer,  Dec.  27,  1792.    Married  Polly  Bemis  of  Ches- 
ter.   They  were  published  Sept.  29,  1S16,  and  married 
"Oct.  22,  1S16;  he  died  Dec.  28,  1867. 

end  of  every  five  years,  until  the  year  2000  when  all  the  panels 
would  be  filled.  A  majority  vote  only  could  elect,  and  it  was 
found  after  the  votes  had  all  been  sent  to  the  University  of  New 
York  and  counted,  that  only  29  persons  had  been  chosen.     Under 


102 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


the  rules  a  revote  could  not  be  taken,  and  so  the  election  of  further 
candidates  was  deferred  until  the  year  1905,  when  it  will  be  in 
order  to  choose  twenty-six  additional  names.     The  names  of  those 


f . — : 

It         -        i 

f'h           "~" 

P 

'  fi          ^,          Jk 

<ni 

B 

' 

1 

ALPHA  BEMIS, 

Son  of  Jonas  Jr.  and  great  grandson  of  Samuel  Sr.   Born  in  Spencer, 

March,  1790.    Died  January  4,  i860. 


who  failed  of  an  election  last  year 

by  ten  vote 

with  annexed. 

Jarnes  B.  Eads 

received  41 

John  Lothrop  Motley 

41 

Benjamin  Rush 

42 

Joseph  Henry 

"         44 

Horace  Greely 

"         45 

Rufus  Choate 

47 

Elias  Howe  Jr. 

47 

Mark  Hopkins 

"         48 

John  Quincy  Adams 

"         48 

Andrew  Jackson 

"         48 

James  Madison 

49 

John  C.  Calhoun 

49 

Wm.  Cullen  Bryant 

49 

or  less  are  here- 


votes. 


a  total  of  thirteen  and  in  view  of  all  the  facts  it  appears  probable 
that  at  the  next  election  these  names  will  be  chosen  as  members 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


IO3 


oi  what  will  become  in  time  the  immortal  band  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty,  whose  fame  is  to  be  perpetuated  in  bronze  and  marble 
in  the  Queen  City  of  America.  What  a  just  tribute  of  honor  to 
the  life  work  of  Elias  Howe  Jr.  would  his  election  be,  and  how 
highly  prized  by  the  Howe  and  Bemis  families!  What  an  honor 
conferred  on  the  town  of  Spencer!  When  we  analyze  and  com- 
pare the  real  value  to  the  world  of  some  of  the  so-called  great 
men,  men  who  have  made  history,  like  Napoleon  the  Great,  men 
who  like  him  have  expended  their  strength  to  gratify  an  unworthy 


ELIAS  BEMIS, 

Son  of  Joshua  Sr.  and  grandson  of  Samuel    Sr.     Born   in   Spencer, 

Dec.  23,  1773;  removed  to  Lyndon,  Vt  ,  where  he  died  Jan'y 

24,  1849.     He  was  a  farmer  and  a  good  business  man 

and  accumulated  a  handsome  estate. 

ambition,  sowing  seeds  of  discord  and  miser}7  and  scattering  de- 
struction broadcast  wherever  they  went;  how  striking  in  com- 
strast,  appears  to  the  world  the  beneficent  results  flowing  from 
the  efforts  of  intelligent  New  England  citizens  like  Tyler,  William 
and  Elias  Howe  Jr.  The  value  of  a  peaceful  and  honorable  avo- 
cation compared  with  the  fame  won  by  the  warlike  Napoleon  was 
never  more  fully  illustrated  then  in  the  following  extract  from  a 
speech  by  Col.  R.  J.  Ingersoll.      He  said: 

' '  A  little  while  ago  I  stood  by  the  grave  of  the  old  Napoleon 
— a  magnificent  tomb  of  gilt   and  gold,  fit  almost  for  a  dead  deity 


104 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


— and  gazed  upon  the  sarcophagus  of  black  Egyptian  marble 
where  rest  at  last  the  ashes  of  that  restless  man.  I  leaned 
over  the  balustrade  and  thought  about  the  career  of  the  greatest 
soldier  of  the  modern  world.  I  saw  him  walking  upon  the  banks 
of  the  Seine,  contemplating  suicide — I  saw  him  at  Toulon — I  saw 
him  putting  down  the  mob  in  the  streets  of  Paris— I  saw  him  at 
the  head  of  the  army  of  Italy — I  saw  him  crossing  the  bridge  of 
Lodi  with  the  tricolor  in  his  hand — I  saw  him  at  Egypt  in  the 
shadows  of  the  pyramids— I  saw  him  conquer  the  Alps  and  mingle 


THOMAS  A.   PROUTY, 
Donor  of  land  for  the  site  first  selected  for  the  Bemis  Monument. 
Born  in  Spencer,  Aug.  n,  1S22.    Has  been  a  schoolteacher,  far- 
mer and  merchant,  and  served  the  town   as  assessor,   over- 
seer of  the  poor  and  member  of  the   school  committee, 
and  the  state   twenty-eight  years  as  justice   of  the 
peace,  and  three  years  as  trial   justice.    I  Photo- 
graphed  by   Edward   L.   Jaynes.    ^901 .) 

the  eagles  of  France  with  the  eagles  of  the  crags—  I  saw  him  at 
Marengo — at  Ulm  and  Austerlitz — I  saw  him  in  Russia  where  the 
infantry  of  the  snow  and  the  cavalry  of  the  wild  blast  scattered 
his  legions  like  Winter's  withered  leaves — I  saw  him  at  I,eip- 
sic  in  defeat  and. disaster,  driven  by  a  million  bayonets  back  upon 
Paris,  clutched  like  a  wild  beast — banished  to  Elba,  I  saw  him  es- 
cape and  retake  an  empire  by  the  force  of  his  genius — I  saw  him 
upon  the  frightful  field  of  Waterloo,  where  chance  and  fate  com- 


SAMUEL    BEMIS. 


I05 


bined  to  wreck  the  fortunes  of  their  former  king.  And  I  saw 
him  at  St.  Helena  with  his  hands  crossed  behind  him,  gazing  out 
upon  the  sad  and  solemn  sea.  I  thought  of  the  orphans  and 
widows  he  had  made — of  the  tears  that  had  been  shed  for  his 
glory,  and  of  the  only  woman  who  ever  loved  him,  pushed  from 
his  heart  by  the  cold  hand  of  ambition.  And  I  said,  I  would 
rather  have  been  a  French  peasant  and  worn  wooden  shoes — I 
would  rather  have  lived  in  a  hut  with  a  vine  growing  over  the  door, 
and  the  grapes  growing  purple  in  the  kisses  of  the  Autumn  sun — 


policy  bemis, 

Daughter  of  Sylvester  Bemis  and   great  granddaughter  of  Samuel 
Bemis  Sr.     Born  in  Chester,   Mass.,   Aug.   9,    1791.     Married 
Elias  Howe  Sr.,  mother  of  Elias  Howe  Jr.,  inventor 
of  the  sewing  machine.     Died  at  Cambridge- 
port,  Sept.  12,  1S71. 

I  would  rather  have  been  that  poor  peasant  with  my  loving  wife 
by  my  side  knitting  as  the  day  died  out  of  the  sky,  with  my 
children  upon  my  knees  and  their  arms  about  me — I  would  rather 
have  been  that  man,  and  gone  down  to  the  tongueless  silence  of 
the  dreamless  dust,  than  to  have  been  that  imperial  impersonation 
of  force  and  murder  known   as  Napoleon  the  Great." 

To  have  provided  the  world,  both  sick  and  well  with  comforta- 
ble beds  on  which  to  sleep;  to  have  provided  means  which  makes 


io6 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


possible  transit  by  rail  rapid  and  continuous,  crossing  rivers  and 
spanning  chasms  with  safe  bridges;  to  have  furnished  the  means 
whereby  every  article  of  clothing  mankind  needs  may  be  quickly, 
•cheaply  and  durably  made,  are,  anyone  of  them,  more  valuable 
achievements  than  all  the  victorious  wars  of  Napoleon.  It  is  true 
that  by  these  wars  the  feudal  system  of  the  old  world  was  destroyed 
and  this  undoubtedly  was  for  the  best  interests  of  mankind.  It 
is  true  that  he  planned  and  partially  carried  out  internal  improve- 
ments in  France  which  were  of  very  great  value,  but  it  is  also 
quite  likely  as  true,  that  all    he    did  was    done  to  gratify    his  own 

ambition  lor  power,  and 
hence  his  acts  are  robbed 
of  every  enobling  virtue, 
even  though  good  was  the 
outcome.  It  appears  proba- 
ble that  if  the  country  he 
is  said  to  have  loved,  his 
own  France,  had  stood  in 
the  way  of  his  ambition, 
he  would  have  sacrificed 
her  as  readily  as  he  did  his 
own  Josephine.  Better,  ten 
thousand  times  better,  to 
have  brought  needed  inven- 
tions into  the  world  to 
lighten  its  labors  and  add 
to  its  comforts  than  to 
have  won  the  most  noted 
victories  of  warfare  with- 
out some  worthy  motive. 

And  now  we  must  close. 
We  have  learned  much  con- 
cerning the  life  and  virtues 
silhouette  of  anna  bemis,  or  the  founder  of  our  town 

Daughter  of  Joshua  Sr.  andgrand  daughter  of  ,       f  v-      Hpcrendailts  that 

Samuel  Sr.     Born  in  Spencer,   January  2,   17S4.  anu  OI    Ills  uebLeuudUls  nidi. 

Married  Abraham  Capen  Sr     May  25   1817,  and  js  worthy  of  OUr  highest  eS- 
died  Mav  21,  1S24:  grandmother  of  Herbert   H.  .  J  °  .     , 

and  EHda  m.  capen.  teem,  and  much  that  might 

with  profit  be  taught  in  our  public  schools,  and  it  is  probable  as 
the  years  come  and  go,  and  the  centuries  fade  away,  this  story  of 
Samuel  Bemis  will  lose  none  of  its  interest  to  his  descendants  and 
to  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Spencer. 


BEMIS    REVOLUTIONARY    WAR 
RECORD. 


The  following  is  the  Revolutionary  War  record  of  the  grand- 
sons of  Samuel  Bemis,  taken  from  the  State  archives  : 

BENJAMIN  BEMIS,  Spencer,  private,  Captain  John  Wol- 
cott's  company  of  Rangers,  which  marched  on  the  alarm  of  April 
19,  1775  Irom  Brookfield  and  Spencer,  service  twelve  days  ;  also 
sergeant,  Captain  Joel  Green's  Company,  Colonel  Ebenezer  Learn- 
ard's  regiment.  Muster-roll  dated  August  1,  1775  ;  enlisted  May 
3i  1 775,  service  three  months,  six  days;  also  company  return 
probably  October,  1775  ;  also  First-Lieutenant  Captain  David 
Proutee's  Eighth,  North  Spencer  company,  Colonel  Samuel 
Denny's  First  Worcester  County  regiment  ;  list  of  officers 
Massachusetts  Militia,  dated  Leicester,  March  28,  1776.  Com- 
missioned April  5,  1776  ;  also  Private  Captain  Ralph  Earll's  Com- 
pany, Colonel  Danforth  Keyes'  regiment,  enlisted  August  20, 
1777,  discharged  January  3,  1778,  service  four  months,  nineteen 
days.     Roll  dated  Providence. 

SAMUEL  BEMIS  JR.,  Spencer,  private,  Captain  Ebenezer 
Mason's  company,  Colonel  Jonathan  Warner's  regiment  which 
marched  on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775  ;  service  thirty-seven 
days  ;  also  corporal,  Captain  Joel  Green's  company,  Colonel  Eben- 
ezer Learnard's  regiment.  Muster-roll  dated  August  1,  1775. 
Enlisted  May  26,  1775,  service  two  months,  eleven  days  ;  also 
served  in  Captain  Jonathan  Carriel's  company,  Colonel  Josiah 
Whitney's  regiment.  Receipt  for  advance  pay  dated  Point  Shir- 
ley, June  13,  1776  ;  also  sergeant,  pay-rolls  for  service  from  date 
of  enlistment  May  17,  1776,  to  November  1,  1776,  five  months 
fifteen  days.  Roll  for  August  to  October,  1776,  dated  at  Hull  ; 
also  pay-roll  for  one  month,  four  days'  service  in  November  and 
December,  1776  ;  also  served  in  Captain  David  Prouty's  company, 
Colonel  Job  dishing' s  Worcester  County  regiment.  Enlisted 
July  27,  1777  ;  discharged  August  28,  1777,  service  one  month 
eight  days ;  marched  to  reintorce  northern  army  by  order  of 
General  Warner. 

REUBEN  BEMIS,  private,  Captain  John  Wolcott's  company 
of  Rangers,  which  marched  on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775  ;  service 
twelve  days. 

JOHN  BEMIS,  Spencer,  corporal,  Captain  Joel  Green's 
company,    Colonel    Ebenezer  Learnard's  regiment.     Muster  roll 


io8 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


dated  August  i,  1775;  enlisted  May  3,  1775;  service  three 
months,  five  days  ;  also  company  returned  probably  October, 
1775;  also  return  of  men  enlisted  into  Continental  Army  dated 
January  1781,  Colonel  Shepard's  fourth  regiment.  Enlisted 
March  4,  1777  ,  private,  Captain  Ebenezer  Mason's  company, 
Colonel  Thomas  Marshall's  regiment;  enlisted  August  16,  1777  ; 
discharged  November  30,  1777.  Service  three  months,  twenty- 
three  days,  in  northern  department.  Residence  Spencer,  enlisted 
during  war. 

JOSEPH    BEMIS,    Charlton,    Captain    Jonathan    Carriel's 
company,  Colonel  Josiah  Whitney's  regiment  ;  receipt  for  advance 


CATHERINE  BEMIS, 

Daughter  of  Joshua  Sr.  and  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Sr.,  born  in 
Spencer,  June  24,  1778.  Married  James  Howland  January  24,  1779 
and  removed  to  Brookfield.  To  illustrate  the  vigor  of  the  Bemis 
family.  Pardon  Howland.  son  of  Catherine  Bemis.  told  the  author 
that  he  never  knew  what  it  was  to  feel  tired  until  he  was  past  fif- 
ty years  of  age.  We  are  indebted  to  Pardon  Howland  for  this 
.  excellent  picture  of  his  mother,  and  the  best  picture  extant  of  a 
grandchild  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.  Before  his'pareuts  had  become  in- 
firm, Mr.  Howland  had  pictures  of  them  taken  and  finished  in  the 
highest  state  of  the  art  known  at  that  time. 

pay  dated  Point  Shirley,  June  13,  1776  ;  pay-rolls  for  service 
from  date  of  enlistment  May  17,  1776,  to  November  1,  1776, 
five   months,   fifteen  days.     Muster-roll    for   August  to  October, 


BEMIS    FAMILY    IN    THE    REVOLUTION.  109 

1776,  dated  Hull  ;  also  pay-roll  for  one  month,  four  days  service 
in  November  and  December,  1776. 

PHINEAS  BEMIS,  private,  Captain  Abner  Cranson's  com- 
pany, Colonel  Asa  Whitcomb's  regiment  ;  receipt  for  wages  for 
August,  1775,  dated  Prospect  Hill  ;  also  order  for  bounty-coat  or 
its  equivalent  in  money,  dated  Prospect  Hill,  November  13,  1775. 

ELEAZEB  Bemis,  Charlton,  private,  Captain  Jacob  Davis' 
company,  Colonel  Ebenezer  Learnard's  regiment  which  marched 
on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775,  to  Roxbury,  service  fifteen  days  ; 
reported  enlisted  into  the  army  ;  also  Captain  William  Campbell's 
company,  Colonel  Learnard's  regiment  ;  return  dated  Roxbury, 
October,  7,  1775  ;  also  order  for  bounty-coat  or  its  equivalent  in 
money  dated  Roxbury,  December  21,  1775.  Muster-roll  dated 
August  1,  1775  ;  enlisted  April  26,  1775  ;  service  three  months, 
one  week,  five  days  ;  also  ensign,  Colonel  William  Shepard's  regi- 
ment ;  Continental  Army  pay  accounts  for  service  from  January  1, 
1777  to  August  18,  1779  ;  reported  resigned  ;  also  order  for 
clothing  dited  Camp  Valley  Forge,  May  1,  1778  ;  also  Captain 
Reuben  Slayton's  company,  Colonel  Shepard's  third  regiment. 
Muster  rolls  for  July  to  November,  1778,  dated  Camp  at  Provi- 
dence ;  reported  on  furlough  in  October,  1778  ;  also  Colonel's 
company,  Colonel  Shepard's  regiment.  Muster-roll  for  March 
and  April,  1779,  dated  Providence.  Enlisted  January  1,  1777, 
reported  on  command  at  the  Western  Shore  ;  also  lieutenant  in 
Colonel  Shepard's  regiment  ;  list  oi  settlement  of  rank  of  Conti- 
nental officers,  dated  West  Point.  November  9,  1779,  made  by  a 
board  held  for  that  purpose  and  confirmed  by  Congress  Septem- 
ber 6,  1779.     Reported  resigned  August  iS,  1779, 

JESSE  BEMIS,  son  of  William  Bemis,  private  in  Captain 
Ebenezer  Mason's  company,  Colonel  Jonathan  Warner's  regiment, 
which  marched  on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775,  service  fourteen 
days  ;  also  sergeant,  Captain  Abel  Holden's  (third)  company. 
Colonel  Thomas  Nixon's  (fifth)  regiment.  Continental  Army  pay 
accounts  for  service  from  April  1,  1777,  to  December  31,  1779, 
credited  to  the  town  of  Spencer  ;  reported  as  serving  seven  months, 
five  days  as  corporal,  twenty-five  months,  twenty-five  days  as 
sergeant,  also  muster-roll  for  May,  1779,  dated  Highlands,  ap- 
pointed November  12,  1777.  Enlistment  three  years;  also  pri- 
vate, Captain  Joel  Green's  company,  Colonel  Ebenezer  Learnard's 
regiment.  Muster-roll  dated  August  1,  1775  ;  enlisted  May  8, 
1775  ;  service  three  months,  one  day  ;  also  company  return  (prob- 
ably October,  1775)  ;  also  return  of  men  enlisted  into  Continental 
Army  from  Captain  David  Prouty's  company,  Colonel  Denny's 
regiment,  dated  February  13,  1778  ;  residence  Spencer,  enlisted 
for  town  of  Spencer.     Joined  Captain  Holden's  company,  Colonel 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Nixon's  regiment. 


Enlistment  three  years 
bv 


Reported  mustered 
Thomas     Newhall. 
Muster  Mav  6,   1777. 

BARNARD  BEMIS, 
Spencer,  private,  Cap- 
tain Ralph  Earll's  com- 
pany, Colonel  Danforth 
Keyes  regiment  ;  enlisted 
August  20,  1777  ;  dis- 
charged January  3, 1778; 
service  four  months  fif- 
teen days.  Roll  dated 
at  Providence. 

DAVID  BE  MIS,  priv- 
ate, Capt.Josiah  White's 
company,  Colonel  Sam- 
uel Denny's  Worcester 
County  regiment.  En- 
listed August  2r,  1777: 
discharged  August  23, 
1777,  service  five  days  ; 
marched  to  Hadley  in 
Lieut. -Colonel  Benjamin 
Flagg's  division  on  an 
alarm  at  the  northward. 
Roll  dated  Spencer. 

OBADIAH  BEMIS, 
Spencer.  Return  of  men 
enlisted  into  Continental 
Army  from  Captain  Jo- 
siah  White's  company, 
Colonel  Denny's  regi- 
ment, dated  Charlton, 
February  18,  1778  ;  resi- 
dence Spencer,  enlisted 
for  town  of  Spencer, 
joined  Captain  Slater's 
company,  Colonel  Shep- 
ard's  regiment.  Enlist- 
ment three  years ;  also 
private   'Colonel's    com- 

Son   of    Amasa   Femis   Sr.,   and   great   grandson   of  pany,       Colonel      William 

Samuel  Bemis  Sr.     Born  at  the  old  homestead  Oct-  qi  j>  i.\^-    j        /    i 

ober  10,  1S10.      Kept  for  a  time  the  old  hotel  which  OlieparCl  S         tnira       t^aiSO 

then   stood   opposite    the   Congregational   church  grjven     fourth   regiment) , 

After  this  he  kept  store  in  a  building  which  stood  ^  ° 

on  the  site  of  the  present  Boston  Rranch  grocery.  Continental     Army       pay 

In  x853  he  emigrated  to  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  account    for  service    from 

January    1,     1780    to    December    31,     1780;    also    return    made 


DEXTER  BEMIS, 


BEMIS    FAMILY    IN    THE    REVOLUTION.  I  IT 


up  to  December  31,  1780  dated  West  Point;  also  private, 
Captain  Field's  company,  Colonel  William  Shepard's  third  regi- 
ment. Continental  pay  account  for  service  from  March  4,  1777  to 
December  31,  1779;  also  Captain  Reuben  Slayton's  company. 
Residence  Spencer,  enlisted  for  the  town  of  Spencer  ;  also  muster 
rolls  July  to  November,  1778,  dated  Camp  at  Providence  ;  reported 
sick  at  Valley  Forge  in  July  and  August,  1778  ;  also  Colonel's 
company,  Colonel  Shepard's  regiment.  Muster-roll  tor  March 
and  April,  1779,  dated  Providence;  enlisted  March  24,  1777. 
Enlistment  during  war  ;  reported  sick  in  hospital. 

NATHANIEL  BEMIS,  sergeant,  Captain  John  Weston's 
company,  Colonel  Eleazer  Brooks'  regiment  of  Guards  ;  enlisted 
January  12,  1778  ;  roll  made  up  to  February  3,  1778,  service 
twenty-two  days  at  Cambridge  and  Charlestowu  guarding  troops 
of  convention. 

JONAS  BEMIS  JR.,  Spencer,  private,  Captain  Field's  com- 
pany, Colonel  William  Shepard's  third  regiment.  Enlisted  for 
the  town  of  Spencer — Valley  Forge  Continental  Army  pay  ac- 
counts for  service  from  March  4,  177710  December  31,  1779; 
also  Captain  Reuben  Slayton's  company,  Colonel  Shepard's  regi- 
ment. Muster  return  dated  Valley  Forge,  January  30,  1778. 
Residence,  Spencer  ;  enlisted  for  the  town  of  Spencer  ;  also  mus- 
ter-rolls for  July,  August,  October  and  November,  1778,  dated  at 
Camp  Providence  ;  reported  under  confinement  in  November, 
1778  ;  also  Colonel's  company,  Colonel  Shepard's  regiment. 
Muster-roll  for  March  and  April,  1779,  dated  Providence,  enlisted 
March  14,  1777,  during  war;  also  corporal  Continental  Army 
pay  accounts  for  service  from  January  1,  1780  to  December  3r, 
1780  ;  also  return  taken  to  December  3r,  1780,  dated  West  Point  ; 
also  Captain  James  Cooper's  company,  Colonel  Shepard's  regi- 
ment. His  name  is  in  the  return  of  men  enlisted  into  Continen- 
tal Army  from  Captain  Josiah  White's  company,  Colonel  Denny's 
regiment,  dated  Charlton,  February  18,  1778.  Residence,  Spen- 
cer, enlisted  for  town  of  Spencer.  Joined  Captain  Slayton's  com- 
pany, Colonel  Shepard's  regiment.      Enlistment  three  years. 

AMASA  BEMIS,  private,  Captain  John  Wolcott's  company 
of  Rangers  which  marched  on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775,  from 
Brookfield  and  Spencer.  Service  twelve  days  ;  also  probably  a 
member  of  Captain  John  Cowle's  company,  Colonel  Benjamin 
Ruggles  Woodbridge's  regiment  ;  order  for  bounty-coat,  or  its 
equivalent  in  money,  dated  Cambridge,  December  23,  1775. 

This  is  a  remarkable  record,  unexcelled  in  Spencer  history, 
and  it  is  thought  rarely  eqalled  in  the  history  of  New  England. 


112 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


BRONZE   STATUE   OF    ELIAS  HOWE    JR., 
At  Sea  Side  Park,  Bridgeport,    Connecticut. 


BEMIS  CIVIL  WAR  RECORD. 


The  data  of  the  following  soldiers  of  the  Bemis  name  who  went 
from  Spencer,  is  taken  from  the  roster  of  the  Grand  Army: 

HENRY  BEMIS,  born  in  Spencer  December  13,  1836.  He 
entered  the  service  July  19,  1862  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  as 
a  private  in  company  E,  thirty-fourth  Massachusetts  volunteers, 
and  was  discharged  June  13,  1865  at  Fortress  Monroe,  the  war 
having  closed.  December  27,  1864,  he  was  promoted  to  corporal, 
which  rank  he  held  when  discharged.  His  first  battle  was  at 
New  Market,  May  15,  1864.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the 
battles  at  Berry ville,  September  3,  1864  ;  Winchester,  September 
19,  1864  ;  Fisher's  Hill,  September  22,  1864  ;  Strasburg,  October 
13,  1864  ;  Cedar  Creek,  October  19,  1864  and  Fort  Gregg,  April 
2,  1865.  At  New  Market,  May  15,  1864,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
thigh  and  at  Fort  Gregg,  April  2,  1865,  he  was  wounded  in  the 
ankle.  During  his  service  he  was  confined  in  the  hospitals  at 
Frederick,  Maryland,  Baltimore  and  Fortress  Monroe.  His  most 
intimate  comrades  in  the  service  were  Henry  Sibley,  George  P. 
Clark,  Henry  and  Dvvight  Chickering  and  Henry  Converse. 

CHARLES  A.  BEMIS,  born  at  Paxton,  December  12,  1838. 
Entered  the  service  at  Worcester,  September  2,  1862,  as  a  private 
in  company  A,  fifty-first  regiment  Massachusetts  volunteers,  and 
was  discharged  at  Boston,  July  27,  1863,  through  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  enlistment.  The  first  battle  in  which  he  engaged 
was  the  battle  of  Whitehall.  Subsequently  he  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Kingston  and  Goldsboro. 

CHARLES  E.  BEMIS,  born  August  5,  1839,  at  Spencer. 
Enlisted  in  the  service  at  Spencer,  August  20,  1862,  as  a  private 
in  company  F,  forty-second  regiment  Massachusetts  volunteers, 
and  was  discharged  at  Readville,  Massachusetts,  August  20,  1863 
by  reason  of  expiration  of  his  term  of  service.  He  was  confined 
through  illness  for  three  weeks  in  the  hospital  while  stationed  at 
Lake  Ponchartrain,  Louisana.  His  most  intimate  comrades  in 
the  service  were  Charles  H.  Allen,  Henry  A.  Knovvltou,  Charles 
Sargeant,  Charles  Lvon,  Henry  Lyon  and  Sergeant  Hiram  Cowan. 

FREDERICK  AUGUSTUS  BEMIS,  was  born  in  Spencer, 
December  20,  1834,  and  enlisted  August  23,  1861  as  first  sergeant 
in  company  C,  twenty-first  regiment,  Massachusetts  volunteers. 
February  28,  1862,  he  was  promotecl  to  second- lieutenant,  and 
July  28,  1862  to  first-lieutenant.      Four  days  later  he  was  killed  at 


ii4 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


the  battle  of  Chantilly,  Virginia.  His  first  fight  was  at  Roanoke 
Island,  North  Carolina,  February  8,  1862.  Subsequently  he  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Newbern,  March  14,  1862,  Camden  Court 
House,  April  19,  1862,  second  Bull  Run,  August  28,  29,  30,  1862 
and  Chantilly,  September  1,  1862.  The  body  of  Lieutenant 
Bemis  lies  in  an  unknown  grave  notwithstanding  much  fruitless 
search  for  it.  His  service  covers  a  period  of  one  year  and  eight 
days,  every  day  of  which  he  was  on  duty  and  did  his  full  duty. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  expecting,  and  doubtless  would 
have  received  it,  if  he  had  lived,  a  higher  commission  in  one  of  the 


UEt'T.  FREDERICK  A.  BEMIS. 
Of  Spencer.     Killed  at  the  Battle  of  Chantilly,  Va.,  August  i,  1862. 

new  companies  then  recruiting  in  his  native  State.  He  was  brave, 
capable,  patriotic  and  ambitious.  No  braver  man  ever  carried  a 
musket  or  wore  a  sword.  This  sketch  has  been  outlined  at  the 
request  of  the  compiler  of  these  narratives,  Erastus  Jones,  by  the 
deceased  friend  and  companion,  Capt.  William  T.  Harlow. 

ALVIN  BEMIS  was  born  in  Spencer,  Massachusetts,  Octo- 
ber 16,  1839,  and  entered  the  service  September  23,  1861,  at 
Readville,  Massachusetts,  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  twenty- 
seventh  regiment  Massachusetts  volunteers,  and  was  discharged 


BEMIS    FAMILY    IN    THE    CIVIL    WAR. 


"5 


£UA5    HQW£, 

Inventor  Of  The  Sewiho  Machine 
And  Ah  Illustrious  Son  Of  The  • 

TOWNSSPE'HCm  ■ 


at  Newbern,    North  Carolina,  April  23,  1863,  for  disability.    His 
first  battle  was  at  Roanoke  Island.      Subsequently  he  participated 

in  the  battles  of  Fort  Mason 
and  Newbern,  after  which 
battle  he  was  put  upon 
General  Burnside's  Dis- 
patch and  Headquarters 
boat  and  remained  there 
until  about  the  time  Burn- 
side  went  to  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  For  about 
a  month  he  was  confined 
in  the  hospital  at  Ports- 
mouth, North  Carolina. 
His  intimate  comrades  in 
the  service  were  John 
Marsh  of  Spencer,  Horace 
Pike,  Win.  Lamb,  Freder- 
ick Young,  and  Win.  King 
of  Charlton,  A.  S.  Howe 
of  Salem,  and  Slayton  N. 
Dean  of  North  Brookfield. 
The  most  important  events 
in  his  service  he  considers 
were  the  capture  of  New- 
bern, North  Carolina,  and 
laying  outside  Hatteras  In- 
let three  days  and  nights 
with  signals  of  distress  fly- 
ing, before  any  help  ven- 
tured near.  He  was  on 
the  Alice  Price  dispatch 
boat  when  it  took  the 
prisoners  from  Fort  Mason 
who  were  paroled  at  their 
homes.  He  was  at  Eliza- 
beth City  when  Com- 
mander Tatnel  set  fire  to 
his  fleet  and  swam  ashore, 
and  was  constantly  on  the 
move  about  Pamlico  and 
Albermarle  Sounds  and 
their  inlets.  After  re- 
turning to  his  regiment  he  went  to  Swansboro  and  assisted  in 
destroying  the  salt  works  there,  and  he  was  kept  actively  at  work 
until  he  was  sent,  late  in  the  fall,  to  the  hospital. 

ELIAS  BEMIS,   born  in  Spencer  February  22,    1837.     En- 


TABLET 

Erected  in  1901  on  the  New  York  Central  R. 
R.  near  Howe's  Crossing.  Spencer,  by  Chas. 
N.  Promt  v,  Thomas  H.  Clark  and  other  pub- 
lic-spirited citizens. 


u6 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


listed  July  20,  1864,  as  a  private  in  company  F,  sixtieth  Massa- 
chusetts volunteers.     Discharged  November  30,  1864. 

OSCAR  R.  BEMIS,  born  in  Spencer,  January  23,  1834. 
Enlisted  as  a  private  June  14,  1861,  in  company  K,  tenth  Massa- 
chusetts volunteers.     Discharged,  and  reenlisted   in  company  E, 


FANNY  BEMIS, 

Daughter  of  Joshua  Sr..  and   granddaughter  of   Samuel    Sr.     Married   Elijah   Howe  Jr., 
March  18,  1790.     Mother   of   Ellas,    Tyler,    William,  Alphonzo  and  Elbridge  Howe 
and  grandmother  of  Elias  Howe,  Jr.      Born  in  Spencer  July  24,  1771.      Died 
November  25,    1S52. 

The  following  verse  is  on  her  headstone  in  the  old  cemetery  : 
"While  o'er  a  dear  and  aged  friend 

We  drop  the  tear  and  heave  the  sigh. 
Faith  whispers  we  shall  yet  ascend 
To  meet  where  love  shall  never  die." 

thirty-fourth  Massachusetts  volunteers  July  31,  1862.  Died  in 
hospital  at  Baltimore,  August  26,  1862. 

EDMOND  J.  BEMIS,  born  in  Spencer  August  19,  1842. 
Enlisted  as  a  private  August  20,  1863,  in  company  F,  forty-second 
regiment  Massachusetts  volunteers.  Died  of  heart  disease  at  Al- 
bany, New  York,  June  21,  1868. 

The  descendants  of  Samuel  Bemis  who  participated  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion  from  other  places  were  numerous,  but 
the  author  has  made  no  attempt  to  trace  their  history. 


DETACHED   FRAGMENTS  OF  BEMIS 
HISTORY. 


Members  of  the  Bemis  family,  who  were  in  Capt.  Ebenezer 
Mason's  company  and  marched  to  Cambridge  on  the  alarm  of 
April  19,  1775: 

Bemis,  Jesse,  son  of  William, 
Bemis,  John,  son  of  Edmund, 
Bemis,  Samuel,  son  of  Samuel  Jr. 


Members  of  the  Bemis  family  who  were  in  Capt.  John  Wol- 

cott's  company  of  Brookfield  and  Spencer  rangers: 

Bemis,  Jonas  Sr.,  Lieut. 

Bemis,  Amasa,  son  of  Joshua  Sr., 

Bemis,  Reuben,      )  fc,  ,  T 

-co  >  sons  or  Samuel  Jr. 

Bemis,  Beniamin,  j  J 


Revolutionary  Pensioners  in  Spencer: 
Bemis,  Jesse, 
Bemis,  Jonas, 
Bemis,   Amasa. 


In  1854  there  were  thirty-four  voters  of  the  Bemis  name  in 
Spencer,  thought  to  be  the  largest  number  recorded  in  any  one 
year. 


Samuel  Bemis  Jr.  Settles  On  Tucker  Hill. 

Samuel  Bemis  Jr.  settled  on  the  east  end  of  lot  56,  which  he 
purchased  of  Benjamin  Tucker's  heirs.  His  house  was  on  the 
southern  slope  of  the  hill  about  due  north  from  the  farm  house 
owned  for  many  years  by  Tucker  &  Woodbury.  There  used 
to  be  a  road  pass  his  house  which  commenced  on  the  Charlton 
road  about  twenty-five  rods  south  of  the  barn  of  Harvey  Sibley  and 


n8 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


ran  westerly  to  the  house  recently  known  as  the  Bardwell  place, 
now  owned  by  Leonard  W.  Bisco.  Some  portions  of  this  road, 
with  the  wall  on  both  sides,  is  still  in  use  on  the  Sibley  farm. 


$ci>Er 


t^Wr 


•;  qA&£$)Q$$%  3  S  '%£  <MA<  $ 


•  IS  -kC  ^?  ^  ?  H  i  fcm  ri  0  P  ^f  r  f 
:l  J  o  s  c  P  h  •  S  c  w  i  f  5-  .w  3  $ .  6  u  f  t,  .3i,-  S  F  C  t  *  c  c  r 
T\Iov.ih20.  I? $2-"  " 


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Six ;  S^ .  Semite-  w"a$  ■  kc^.  June  -tK23  -I??  P 
Jgicazergcrnifs- wa$-Jborri  : 

1  $3.8r .  Scmif? ■  w3u?-  W« ■  Au£  ■  th -  7 -  *?>>  *  5 
MnJfmif,?'  wy.-S-  •  .born  •  £^CthIo-.lo 
Fr3.nWiYvBemif.5- .wa^bom .Fc.br-t,h/  I80J|; 

iA  .F&miiy  Recoct  SPe^cer  ■  m-the  -Couth/.. 

Irhe   CorvwOiVWdlh  ' 
TO  £UPPli3  v»t  •  WrtUC  ■  nOthfftl  •  i£  ■  dCTi/d.  >'•  h 


CCC'O.o- 


SAMPLER 

Worked    by    Sally     Beinis.     daughter    of  Joseph,    granddaughter  3.  Ji^aS 

of  C apt.  Edmund,   and   great  granddaughter  of  Samuel  Sr.  ^..uaW 

Samplers  were  very  common  a  century  ago  and  were  -.:.  S 

worked   usually   by  gills  from  ten  to  twelve  .       _,  Z^"^- 
years  of  age. 


FRAGMENTS    BEMIS    HISTORY.  1 19 

Petition  To    The    General    Court    June    20,    1757,  of 
William  Bemis  and  John  Cunningham. 

To  the  Hon.  Spencer  Phipps  Esq.,  Lieut.    Gov.    and  Commander  in 

ChieJ  of  the  Honorable  Committee  and  House  of  Representatives 

setting  in  Boston,  March  30,  1757. 

The  petition  of  John  Cunningham  Exr. :  of  the  testament  of  Hugh 

Cunningham,  late   of  Spencer   in  ye    county    of   Worcester  humbly 

shows  that  the  same  Hugh  in  his  life  time  sold  to  William  Bemis 

two  acres  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  perch  of  meadow  lying 

in  said  Spencer  for  five  pounds,    fifteen   shillings  lawful  money  and 

received  the  same  sum,  but   died   before   he  could  grant  a  deed  and 

the  facts  are  true      Your  petitioner  prays  the  said  John  as  Exr.  may 

be  empowered  by  your   Honors  to   execute  a   proper  conveyance  of 

said  meadow  to  said  William  so    tbat  justice  may  be  done  and  as  in 

duty  bound  we  shall  ever  prav. 

Signed   1  J°HX  CUNNINGHAM, 
oignea    fWIIvIjAM  BEMIS. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  Apr.  9,  1757,  read  and  ordered 
that  the  prayer  of  this  petition  be  granted  and  that  the  same  John 
Cunningham  be  and  hereby  is  improved  in  his  said  capacity  to 
make  and  execute  a  good  sufficient  deed  to  the  said  William  Bemis 
of  the  land  within  mentioned  and  that  the  same  be  and  hereby  is 
declared  to  be  as  good  and  valid  in  ye  law  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses whatsoever  as  if  said  Hugh  Cunningham  had  made  the  same 
in  his  lifetime. 

This  land  was  a  portion  of  the  great  meadows  and  adjoined 
land  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr. 


Town  Records. 

"Taken  up  and  strayed  b)r  Benjamin  Bemis  one  Brown 
Heffer  supposed  to  be  two  years  old  with  white  hind  legs  up  to 
her  body,  her  tail  white  halfway,  white  on  her  rump,  and  a 
star  on  her  forehead,  some  white  on  her  forefeet  with  small  J  on 
horns."     Spencer,  Nov.  7,  1757. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  Nov.  25,  1 77 1 ,  Capt.  William  Bemis, 
John  Biseo,  John  White  Jr.  and  John  Muzzy  were  appointed  to 
apprize  the  pews  in  the  new  meeting  house.  This  was  done  and 
the  Bemis  family  purchased  as  follows: 

Pew  No.  Price 

Capt.  William  Bemis,  1  i2lbs  15s 

Joshua  Bemis,  42  7  "      5s 

Nathaniel  Bemis,  29  9  " 

Benjamin  Bemis,  44  7  " 

Voted  at  a  town  meeting  held  June  28,  1773,  "that  Dea. 
Oliver  Watson,  James  Ormes,  Capt.  William  Bemis,  Asa  Baldwin 
and  Moses  Livermore  be  a  committee  to  transact  the  whole  affair 
relative  to  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Joseph  Pope." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  17,  1777,  "  upon  the  question 
being  put  whether  the  town  would  come  into  the  method  that  is 


120 


SKETCHEK    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


SPECIMENS  OF  COVER  QUILTS 

Made  by  granddaughters  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.  The  one  in  a  square 
plaid  design  was  made  by  Catherine  (Bemis)  Howland,  and  is  now- 
owned  by  Melinda  Howland  of  Brookfield,  the  other  by  Sarah 
(Bemis)  New-hall  and  owned  by  the  w  f e  of  Paul  Sibley.  Sarah 
Bemis  was  the  daughter  of  Jonas  Bemisi  Sr.  She  married  Reuben 
Newhall  and  was  the  mother  of  Otis  Newhall.  These  quilts  were 
all  made  from  wool  grown  in  Spencer,  combed,  dved  and  spun  bv 
those  women,  and  woven  by  them  on  hand  looms.  They  are  of 
most  excellent  workmanship.  The  father  of  George  A.  Craig, 
Esq.,  was  a  maker  of  spinning  wheels,  and  it  is  presumed  that  in 
his  day  he  made  nearly  all  the  wheels  sold  in  this  section.  When 
the  daughter  of  a  well-to-do  farmer  was  about  to  be  married  a  "set 
of  Craig's  wheels,"  as  they  were  called,  was  usually  a  part  of  the 
dowry. 


FRAGMENTS    BEMIS    HISTORY.  121 

proposed  for  procuring  men  to  engage  in  the  Continental  array 
for  the  term  of  three  years  or  during  the  war  it  passed  in  the 
affirmative. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  20  pounds  be  given  as  a  bounty  to 
each  person  that  should  engage    on    behalf  of  the  town.     The 
committee  by  the  town  to  have   charge  of  the  matter  are  Dea. 
John  Muzzy,  John  Bisco,   Capt.   Wm.   Bemis,  Aaron  Hunt  an 
John  White  Jr. 

March  1st,  1779.  Town  committee.  Inspectors  of  the 
market:  Maj.  Asa  Baldwin,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Mason  and  Lieut. 
Benjamin  Bemis. 

March  1780,  Jonas  Bemis  paid  to  the  town  a  fine  of  40  lbs. 
for  refusing  to  serve  as  constable.  The  above  sum  probably 
represents  the  depreciated  currency  of  the  times.  In  Dec.  1779 
one  dollar  in  silver  could  be  exchanged  for  $32.50  in  Continental 
bills  and  this  depreciation  continued  rapidly  until  the  Continental 
currency  was  worthless.  It  is  thought  about  five  dollars  in 
silver  would  represent  the  amount  of  the  fine. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  18,  1780  the  following  com- 
mittee was  chosen  "  to  hire  men  if  needed  to  go  into  the  army:" 
Capt.  David  Prouty,  Lieut.  Benjamin  Bemis,  Lieut.  John  White, 
Lieut.  Johnathan  Rich,  Capt.  Joshua  Draper. 

178 1  Lieut.  Benjamin  Bemis  elected  tithingman. 

March  1782,  town  voted  to  allow  Capt.  Benjamin  Bemis  3  lbs. 
for  hiring  men  for  the  army. 

March  1792,  town  paid  Amasa  Bemis  1  lb.  16s  for  "boarding 
school  dame  and  house  room."  Paid  William  Bemis  8  shillings 
for  flax  seed  to  get  oil  with  for  the  meeting  house. 


Amasa  Bemis  Sr.  died  Nov.  21,  1842,  aged  eighty-five,  and 
his  body  was  placed  in  the  tomb  at  the  old  homestead  as  per  his 
will,  but  Dexter  and  Amasa,  his  sons,  concluding  to  remove  to 
Wisconsin,  removed  the  body  to  the  old  cemetery  between  1853 
and  1855.  There  was  never  any  other  occupant  of  the  tomb  except 
a  child  named  Rawlings,  who  was  placed  there  temporarily  one 
winter. 


Edmund  Bemis  entered  one  term  service  in  the  Colonial 
army,  February  18,  1756,  and  served  until  Dec.  25,  1756,  forty- 
four  weeks,  four  days — thirty-eight  days  travel  allowed. 


Col.  Benjamin  Bemis  commanded  a  regiment  in  the  war  of 
18 12,  and  was  ordered  to  the  Canadian  frontier  but  did  not  have 
an  engagement  with  the  British. 


122  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

Edmund  Bemis  Renders  a  Bill  for  Services,  Etc. 

Massachusetts  Province  to  Edmund  Bemis,  Dr. 
To  my  subsistence  15  days,  making  up  ye  rate  at  1-6,  7m.   2s.   6d. 
To  my  expenses,  6  days  from  Spencer  to  Boston  and 

back  again  to  Spencer,  lib.  4s. 

To  John  Chamberlain,  found  his  arm,  12s. 

Jonas  Bemis,  12s. 

Deliverance  Carpenter       "  12s. 

Reuben  Clark  12s. 

Thomas  Wood  12s. 

Lt.  Kphraim  Howard  12s. 

Nathan  Hambleton  12s. 

Eliphalet  Hambleton  12s. 

Ebenezer  Davis  12s. 

Solomon  Flagg  12s. 


Boston,  Feb'y  25,  1757. 
Errors  excepted. 


8ft>s.   6s.    6d. 


*Q&VLvffi 


Extracts  from  Will  of  Amasa  Bemis  Sr. 

By  this  will  he  says:  "I  further  give  and  bequeath  to  my  said 
wife,  Nancy  Bemis,  good  and  sufficient  meats,  drinks,  clothing, 
lodging,  nursing  and  doctoring;  also  good  and  sufficient  firewood 
furnished  and  brought  into  her  house  at  all  times  suitable  for  her 
fire  places  as  she  ma}*  choose,  and  in  fine  to  have  and  be  pro- 
vided with  everything  she  may  need  and  her  situation  require  both 
in  sickness  and  health  for  her  comfort  and  convenience  so  that  she 
may  be  able  to  support  her  rank  and  standing  in  society  as  she  has 
hitherto  done  while  living  with  me  and  all  this  to  be  done  and  pro- 
vided for  her  bv  the  said  Dexter  Bemis,  my  son,  during  her  natural 
life." 

He  wills  also  that  "my  body  is  to  be  placed  in  the  family 
tomb  on  my  original  home  farm  in  Spencer,  and  I  hereby  express- 
ly reserve  said  tomb  for  a  common  family  tomb  with  a  strip  of  land 
two  rods  in  width  all  around  said  tomb,  and  the  privilege  of  passing 
and  repassing  thereto  at  all  times.  Said  tomb  to  be  the  common 
property  and  for  the  common  use  as  a  burial  place  for  myself  and 
family  and  for  said  Foster  and  Dexter  Bemis  and  their  families  if 
they  should  choose." 


Moved  By  Oxen. 

The  old  district  No.  9    Red  schoolhouse  was  moved  by  oxen 
to  its  present  location  at  Westville,  also  the  Hannah  Green  and 


FRAGMENTS    BEMIS    HISTORY.  I  23 

Danforth  Betnis  houses  from  the  Samuel  Bemis  homestead  lot.  It 
is  not  known  how  many  oxen  were  employed  but  some  idea  may 
be  obtained  by  the  fact  that  when  the  house  now  occupied  by 
Daniel  W.  Adams  on  Pleasant  street  was  moved  about  1842  from 
near  the  Sugden  block  there  were  sixty  yoke  of  oxen  used,  made 
up  in  two  "strings"  as  they  were  then  called,  of  thirty  yoke 
each.  About  every  farmer  in  town  came  without  expense  to  help 
at  this  ■"  moving  bee." 


Amasa  Bemis  inherited  the  estate  of  his  father,  Joshua,  and 
grandfather,  Samuel. 

In  1798  the  home  farm  contained  153/4  acres. 

Detached  land  953/i 

Total 
The  farm  was  valued  by  the  assessors  at 
Other  land 

House  with  80  perch  of  land 
Long  barn  33  x  80 
Square  barn  30  x  30 

Total  $4492  2,5 

There  were  at  this  time  two  sets  of  assessors,  one  called  the 
principal  assessors,  the  other  called  the  assistant  assessors,  each 
set  making  independent  estimates.  They  varied  considerably 
on  separate  items  in  the  above  case,  but  on  the  total  estimates  of 
value,  only  $16.26 


249^   acres 

$2302 

50 

H95 

75 

320 

00 

284 

00 

90 

00 

Questions  and  answers  in  history  asked  in  1833  at  District 
No.  2  school: 

"Who  is  President  of  the  United  States?  Ans.  Andrew 
Jackson. 

"Who  is  Governor  of  Massachusetts?      Ans.     Devi  Lincoln. 

"Who  commanded  a  Spencer  company  at  Crown  Point?  Ans. 
Edmund  Bemis. 

"Who  dug  the  first  grave  in  Spencer?  Ans.  Edmund  Bemis." 


Nathaniel  Sr.,  Joshua  Sr.  and  William  Bemis  Sr.  each  served 
thirteen  days  as  sentinels  on  the  Western  frontier  in  1748. 


Abijah  Bemis,  founder  of  what  is  known  as  the  Paxton 
branch  of  the  Bemis  family,  was  a  nephew  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.  of 
Spencer.  Both  had  a  common  ancestor  in  Joseph  Bemis  of  Wa- 
tertown. 


I24 


SKETCHES   OF  SPENCER   HISTORY. 


Estate  of  Samuel  Bemis  Jr. 

The  following  inventory  doubtless  shows  the  usual  kinds 
of  personal  property  owned  by  well-to-do  farmers  about  the  year 
1S00. 

Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Samuel  Bemis  Jr.  late  of  Spencer 
deceased. 


Ihs.  s. 

d. 

: 

fibs 

.  s. 

d. 

i  farm  containing  160 

1  grindstone  and  crank 

15 

acres  of  land  with 

1  old  plough 

6 

buildings  thereon,   5 

10 

1  shovel 

3 

5  cows 

16 

10 

2  scythes  and  tackling 

12 

6 

1  two-year  old  colt 

8 

Horse  tackling 

4 

6 

6  swine 

4 

1  chain 

10 

1  set  of  plough 

1 

1     do 

4 

1  ox  sled 

3 

1  adds 

5 

2  dung  forks 

6 

1  hansaw 

3 

2  ox  yokes  and  forms 

7 

Y?  bushil 

1 

6 

3  rakes 

3 

2  sadles 

2 

16 

Bull  rings  and  wayes 

4 

Wearing  apparil 

4 

9 

6 

1  hoe 

1 

6 

Woolen  yarn 

1 

6 

1  ax 

4 

6 

Flax 

9 

2  augers 

2 

6  chairs 

6 

1  sickle 

1 

4 

One  shugar  box 

6 

1  sieve 

6 

1  cheap  tub 

6 

1  basket 

1 

1  pail 

1 

8 

2  yards  fulled  cloth 

8 

1  wooden  dish 

8 

Sheeps  wool 

2 

1 

1  meat  tub 

2 

1  lantern 

3 

1  pickle  tub 

3 

2  wooden  bottles 

2 

8 

1  cheese  hoop 

1 

Combed  wool 

1 1 

Old  casks 

9 

10 

1   churn 

1 

6 

1  wool  wheile 

5 

6 

2  small  tubs 

1 

1  brass  kittle 

18 

1  salt  morter 

1 

6 

Irou  ware 

16 

Salt  meat 

1 

1  crane 

2 

8 

12  old  cider  barrels 

17 

1  tosling  iron 

1 

1  cheese  press 

3 

1  puter 

2 

6 

2  old  cheese  chests 

2 

Knives  and  forks 

4 

1  flax  comb 

8 

1  table 

6 

3  milk  pans 

1 

6 

Other  linniu 

7 

8 

1  brass  skilet 

1 

1  feather  bed  and  beddi 

ng40 

1  yoke  oxen 

14 

2  wooden  bottles 

8 

4  yearlings 

6 

1  iron  box 

1 

1  mair  and  colt 

9 

12 

2  bushels  of  corn 

6 

3  calves 

2 

5 

Corn  in  the  barn 

4 

1  cart  and  wheels 

2 

8 

Barley 

40 

FRAGMENTS    BEMIS    HISTORY 


125 


fts.  s.  d. 
Cheese  on  hand  19 

Hay  in  barn  32 

1  hive  and   skins  at 

tannery  19 

1  looking  glass  1 

Crockery  ware  126 

1  cass  of  draws  2     4 

Table  linnin  16 

1  feather  bed  and  bedding  80 

1  "  20 

2  pitching  forks  3 

Spencer,  Sept.  14,  1793. 


lbs.  s  d.   f. 


1  broad  chisel 

Corn  in  the  field  ( 

5  sheep 

Apples  in  the  orchard 

Boards 

Cash  on  hand 

1  note  signed  by  Col. 
Benj.  Bemis,  princi- 
ple and  interest       2 


6 
6 

33 
16 

7 
42 


3     4     3 


666lbs  12s  4s    3f 


ABIJAH  LAMB, 
DAVID  ADAMS, 
AMOS  ADAMS, 


Appraisers. 

To  this  account 

was 

afte 

r\v 

ards  added  the  following 

items: 

ft. 

s. 

d. 

ft.    s. 

d 

Sole  leather 

9 

55  lbs.  cheese 

1    10 

A  calf  skin 

10 

1 2  lbs.  sole  leather 

14 

1  kid  skin 

6 

A  sheep  skin 

4 

47  lbs.  butter 

39 

The  skins  mentioned  as  being  at  the  tannery  were  presuma- 
bly at  the  one  operated  at  that  time  by  Elliot  and  Joseph  Mason 
and  which  stood  near  the  site  of  the  present  residence  of  the  Cut- 
ler Prouty  house  opposite  Sugden  block. 


The  old  No.  9  school  house  not  being  well  located  to  accom- 
modate the  majority  of  the  pupils  who  lived  in  the  village  it  was 
sold,  removed  to  Westville  and  made  into  the  dwelling  now  owned 
by  Orin  D.  Barr.  A  new  No.  9  schoolhouse  was  built  on  lower 
Main  street,  which  in  later  years  was  sold  and  made  into  a  dwell- 
ing by  the  late  Thomas  Manion. 


John  and  Sylvanus  Bemis  built  about  1820  a  small  mill  on  a 
stream  which  flows  through  the  meadow  between  the  Joseph 
Bemis  house  and  the  Sprague  place.  Here  they  turned  bobbins 
for  woolen  manufacturers.  Sylvanus  gained  quite  a  local  reputa- 
tion also  as  a  maker  of  violins. 


126  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Capt.  Edmund  Provides  for  His  Old  Age. 

This  Indenture  made  this  twenty-fourth  Day  of  May,  A.  D. 
1796,  between  Enoch  Knapp  of  Spencer,  in  the  County  of  Worces- 
ter and  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  yeomen,  on  the  one  part, 
and  Edmund  Bemis  of  Spencer  in  the  County  and  Commonwealth 
aforesaid,  Gentlemen,  on  the  other  part,  witnesseth  that  the  said 
Enoch  Knapp  in  Consideration  for  a  Deed  of  Sale  given  him  by  the 
said  Edmuncl  Bemis  of  his  whole  farm  not  deeded  away  to  his  son 
Joseph,  bearing  Date  with  these  presents,  Doth  Lease  and  to  farm 
let  unto  the  said  Edmund  Bemis,  his  heirs,  Executors  and  Adminis- 
trators, the  whole  of  the  farm  which  the  said  Edmund  Bemis  deeded 
to  him  May  25,  1796,  together  with  Buildings  thereon  during  the 
said  Edmund's  natural  life. 

To  have  and  to  hold  from  the  Day  of  the  Date  unto  the  per- 
iod above  mentioned. 

The  Conditions  of  the  above  Lease  is  such  that  if  the  said 
Enoch  Knapp  doth  support  the  above  said  Edmund  Bemis  com- 
fortably both  in  food  and  clothing,  doctoring  and  nursing  in  case 
of  sickness,  and  doth  provide  all  necessary  articles  for  Comfort  of 
the  said  Edmund  Bemis  from  this  Date  to  the  End  of  his  Natural 
Life,  then  this  Instrument  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect  otherwise 
to  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue,  in  witness  hereof  I  have  hereunto 
set  my  hand  and  seal  this  twenty-fourth  Day  of  May,  A.  D.  1796, 
and  in  the  Twenty-first  vear  of  the  Independence  of  America. 

ENOCH  KNAPP. 
Signed,  Sealed  and  Delivered  in  presence  of 
Joseph  Bemis, 
Thos.  Sprague. 


Lyman  Bemis  owned  and  operated  a  wire  mill  at  the  Upper 
Wire  Village  from  1826  to  1831.  He  appears  to  have  sold  out  to 
Austin  Bemis  to  whom  the  property  was  taxed  in  1832-33  when 
the  latter  died  and  Wm.  Bemis  was  appointed  administrator. 


DISTRICT  NO.  9  SCHOOLHOUSE. 


The  old  red  schoolhouse  of  district  No.  9  stood  in  the  cor- 
ner of  the  pasture,  across  the  road,  west  of  where  Theodore  J. 
Bemis  now  lives.  This  was  the  place  where  many  who  have  been 
leading  citizens  in  Spencer  were  instructed  in  their  youthful  days. 
Men  were  usually  employed  as  teachers  for  the  Winter  and  women 
for  the  Summer  terms.  One  teacher,  Frank  D.  Lincoln  of  Brim- 
field,  afterwards  a  captain  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  is  particu- 
larly remembered  as  one  of  the  best  teachers  of  that  time. 

The  following  poem  was  written  and  published  many  years 
ago  in  the  Oakdale  Gleaner,  a  random  Spencer  publication,  by 
one  who  was  a  leading  girl  in  the  old  school  days,  and  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  scenes  she  so  vividly  portrays.  The  name  of 
the  farmer  who  owned  the  clover  and  rye  fields  was  Dea.  William 
Sumner. 

The  Old  Red  Schoolhouse. 

That  old  red  school  house,  well  do  I  remember, 
For  there  my  youthful  hours  I   whiled  away 

Within  its  walls,  with  hooks  and  slate  so  busy. 

Without  the  door,  with  schoolmates  dear  at  play. 

Each  spot  within,  to  memory  still  how  dear, 

The  desk  so  large  at  which  the  teacher  sat 
With  rule  and  rod  that  made  us  quake  with  fear, 

With  nail  above  for  bonnet  or  for  hat. 

For  largest  scholars  thirty  desks  were  seen 

And  ten  low  benches  for  the  smaller  fry, 
And  windows  eight,  not  always  whole  nor  clean, 

But  up  so  high,  they  kept  out  curious  eye. 

The  stove,  at  which  in  winter  I  would  linger, 

The  black  board,  where  my  spirits  oft  did  fail, 

The  shelf  beside  the  door,   for  books  and  dinner, 
The  place  for  dipper  and  the  water  pail. 

And  those  long  noonings  I  can  ne'er  forget. 

Or  the  stone  houses,  where  I  always  plaved, 
Nor  Vet  the  pastures  where  for  flowers  and  berries 

With  my  lov'd  schoolmates  I  so  oft  have  strayed. 

The  spring  so  prized,  with  clearest  water  gushing. 
The  hill  down  which  I've  had  full  many  a  slide, 

The  brook  through  field  and  meadow  ever  rushing, 
The  pond  on  which  the  skater  used  to  slide. 


128 


SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


The  saw  mill,  and  the  cottage  standing  near  it, 
The  worthy  owner,  oft  I've  heard  him  cry, 

As  we  through  fields  of  grass  and  grain  were  scudding, 
To  "  leave  my  clover,"  or  "get  out  that  rye." 

The  old  red  schoolhouse,  now  it  stands  deserted, 
About  its  doors  no  children  heard  at  play, 

The  brook,  the  spring  and  play  house,  all  neglected, 
The  building  now,  fast  passing  to  decay. 


OLD  DISTRICT  NO.  9  RED  SCHOOL  HOUSE  AS  IT  LOOKED  IN  1841. 

Yet  still  I  love  it,  and  I  fain  would  linger 

O'er  each  familiar  scene  to  memory  dear, 

For  those  lov'd  schoolmates,   some,    I'll  wish  all  blessings, 
O'er  graves  of  others  shed  the  mourner's  tear. 


Interesting    Letter. 

The  following  very  interesting  letter  was  written  to  Miss 
Lucy  Merrick  of  Sturbridge,  by  her  sister  who  had  come  to  Spen- 
cer to  teach  at  this  school  the  spring  term  of  184 1.  She  evidently 
was  homesick  but  would  not  confess  it  even  to  herself  : 

vSpencer,   May  31st,  1841. 
Dear  Sister  : — 

It  is  but  little  more  than  one  week  since  I  left  home  and  still 
it  seems  as  though  it  was  an  age,  but  do  not  think  I  am  homesick, 
for  1  am  not  really  so,  but  have  come  very  near  it  once  or  twice 
I  have  a  school  of  fifty-three  scholars  which  is  quite  as  many  as  I 


AN    INTERESTING    LETTER. 


129 


want,  but  I  have  not  got  them  all  yet,  and  when  they  are  all  in  shall 
have  fifty-five  or  sixty  It  was  well  for  me  that  I  did  not  know 
much  about  the  school  or  I  should  have  never  seen  Spencer  in  the 
capacitv  of  teacher.  It  is  called  the  worst  school  in  town  and  last 
winter  their  school  was  very  poor.  They  came  very  near  turning 
away  their  teacher  and  it  left  their  school  in  a  very  bad  state.  As 
for  my  boarding  place  it  is  not  just  such  an  one. as  I  should  like, 
but  I  will  not  complain.  I  board  with  a  widow  lady  who  is  a  very 
pleasant  woman  but  has  quite  a  family  of  children  which  I  think  is 
not  quite  so  pleasant.  As  for  our  Sabbaths  I  know  not  what  to  say. 
Could  you  be  here  it  would  save  me  the  trouble  of  describing  as  I 
cannot  find  words  to  express  what  I  wish  to  say.       There  are  three 


MARIA   I  .   MERRICK, 

Daughter  cf  Capt.  Thomas  Verrick,   a   prominent   citizen    of  Stur- 

bridge   and   who  taught  the   spring  term  at  the  old  district  No. 

9,  Red  schoolhouse  in  1841.      Married  Henry  L,  Mellen,  Nov. 

28,  1846,  and  settled  at  Brook  field;   mother  of  Sarah   J., 

present  wife  of   E.    Harris    how  land.     This   picture 

was  taken  about  the  time   Miss    Merrick   taught 

school  in  Spencer. 

boys  between  the  ages  of  six  and  ten  and  they  are  fighting  continu- 
ally. They  need  a  father's  care  and  correction.  I  can  bear  it  very 
well  any  day  but  Sunday  and  then  when  I  am  not  obliged  to  be  in 
school  t  do  not  wish  for  the  noise  of  children.  My  accommoda- 
tions are  not  what  I  could  wish.  My  sleeping  room  is  the  parlor 
and  sitting  room,  and  then  I  cannot  have  the  room  to  myself  but  am 
obliged  to  have  one  of  the  girls  sleep  with  me.  You  probably  recol- 
lect the  day  I  left  home  I  expected  to  have  been  examined  in 
the   afternoon,    but   Rev'd   Mr.    Levi    Packard    (although   always 


I30  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


preaching  punctuality  to  others)  forgot  to  be  punctual  himself  and 
I  was  therefore  obliged  to  defer  it  until  Monday  afternoon.  I  called 
at  Dr.  Aaron  Green's  and  waited  two  hours  for  him,  but  he  had  for- 
gotten that  he  had  an  engagement  and  therefore  did  not  call.  I  got 
along  very  well,  did  not  miss  one  question,  but  when  I  began  to 
parse  did  not  get  the  sense  of  the  piece  and  got  somewhat  puzzled 
and  instead  of  helping  me  at  all,  sat  and  laughed  at  me,  which  I 
called  rather  provoking,  but  it  is  all  over  with  and  the  most  I  dread 
now  is  the  first  visit  to  in  v  school  I  expected  them  this  afternoon  but 
they  have  not  been.  I  have  two  of  Mrs  Cheney  Sumner's  children, 
(she  that  was  Mary  Coy  of  Brimfield),  that  attend  school  and  they 
are  as  pretty  as  any  scholars  in  school.  I  have  called  on  Mrs  Sum- 
ner and  she  seems  like  an  old  acquaintance  although  I  do  not  recol- 
lect ever  seeing  her  before  She  wishes  to  be  remembered  to  you 
all.  My  boarding  place  is  so  far  from  the  schoolhouse  that  I  can- 
not go  there  at  noon  and  I  find  a  very  pleasant  place  to  call  at  wid- 
ow William  Sumner's  the  nearest  house  to  the  schoolhouse  She 
appears  very  glad  to  have  me  call  and  invites  me  to  come  every  day. 
I  happened  to  meet  a  friend  to-day  very  unexpectedly  as  I  was  com- 
ing to  school  not  thinking  of  seeing  any  one  that  I  knew.  I  saw  a 
carriage  and  whom  should  be  in  it  but  Col  Estabrook  He  ap- 
peared to  be  very  glad  to  see  me  and  thought  I  must  have  got  lost 
to  be  so  far  from  home.  My  health  is  very  good  excepting  a  very 
hard  cough,  and  what  to  do  for  it  I  do  not  know,  as  I  keep  getting 
a  little  more  cold  and  it  keeps  me  coughing  almost  all  the  time.  I 
shall  begin  to  think  it  necessary  to  know  how  to  dance  if  I  stay  in 
Spencer  long  as  they  are  continually  having  "scrapes"  as  they  call 
them  There  have  been  two  since  I  came  here  and  the  widow's 
daughter  attended  them,  so  you  see  I  have  an  opportunity  to  lend 
things  to  wear  if  I  do  not  go  myself  But  it  is  now  almost  six 
o'clock  and  I  have  not  been  home  to  tea  and  my  stomach  begins  to 
tell  me  it  is  tea  time,  but  I  dread  starting  for  after  I  have  sat  a  few 
moments  I  can  tell  how  tired  I  am  when  I  get  up  I  can  find  but 
little  time  to  sit  in  school  and  when  I  get  through  am  obliged  to 
walk  more  than  half  a  mile  to  my  boarding  place,  all  up  hill.  My 
schoolhouse  is  large  and  a  very  good  one  except  it  is  very  dirty.  I 
think  I  shall  wash  it  some  day  when  school  does  not  keep.  I  saw 
Miss  Robinson  at  church  yesterday  She  is  at  work  for  Mr.  Gerry 
Russ.  One  of  the  widow's  daughters  has  gone  to-da}r  to  commence 
learning  the  trade  at  his  clothier's  shop.  I  presume  vou  have  for- 
gotten to  send  me  some  papers  but  I  have  not.  Do  write  as  soon  as 
vou  get  this  and  send  as  many  papers  as  you  can  Tell  Alfred  a 
Philadelphia  paper  would  be  acceptable  I  get  but  very  little  to 
read  here  and  what  I  do  get  is  not  worth  much  My  best  love  to  all 
who  inquire  and  if  any  one  asks  how  I  like  tell  them  first  rate,  be- 
cause I  should  dislike  to  have  it  said  I  was  homesick,  you  know. 
Tell  mother  I  should  like  to  step  in  and  take  tea  with  her  to-night, 
but  think  I  shall  defer  it  till  I  get  through  with  my  school,  as  I 
should  enjoy  it  better  if  I  had  not  got  to  come  back  again  Tell 
Dexter  to  write  to  me  as  I  wish  to  know  how  he  is  prospering  in  his 
worldly  affairs  Excuse  this  bad  looking  letter  as  I  have  written  in 
great  haste.  I  will  write  a  better  one  next  time. 
From  vour  affectionate  sister, 

MARIA  L.  MERRICK. 

The  postage  on  this  letter  from  Spencer  to  Stnrbridge  was 
six  cents.  The  postal  rates  at  that  time  were  not  only  much 
higher  than  now  but  prepayment   was  optional.     The  author  re- 


LITERARY    CURIOSITY.  131 

members  a  story  told  by  his  father,  who  was  a  musician  and  fre- 
quently employed  to  play  the  clarinet  at  dances  in  the  surround- 
ing towns  by  a  teacher  of  dancing  named  "Tomsou" — that  was 
the  way  he  spelled  his  name.  Mr.  Tomson  was  quite  a  penurious 
man  and  when  he  sent  a  mail  order  for  an  engagement  never  pre- 
paid the  postage.  At  one  time  he  sent  an  order,  as  usual,  and  not 
getting  an  immediate  reply,  thought  the  letter  had  miscarried  and 
wrote  again.  In  his  last  communication  he  said:  "If  you  got  my 
first  letter  all  right  you  can  save  the  postage  on  this  one  by  not 
taking  it  out  of  the  office. ' ' 


At  a  town  meeting  held  March  24,  1767,  it  was  "voted  to 
Nathaniel  Bemis,  late  constable,  six  shillings  on  account  of  a 
counterfeit  dollar  which  he  took  accidentally  in  collecting  the 
Province  tax." 


Literary  Curiosity. 

The  following  is  inserted  simply  as  a  curiosity.  Some  years 
ago  a  New  York  pnper  offered  six  equal  prizes  to  those  who 
should  write  the  best  contributions  on  the  weather,  containing 
two  hundred  words  without  the  letter  a.  The  author  was  one  of 
some  four  hundred  competitors  and  won  a  prize. 

"  The  Tempest." 

"^It  is  dusk  upon  the  bluffs  of  the  little  hillside  town  which 
overlooks  the  rocky,  precipitous  shores  of  the  mighty  deep  below. 
The  storm  king  is  enthroned.  The  spirit  of  violence  is  running 
riot.  Every  soul  is  hushed  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  solicitude 
for  the  elements  portend  sudden  destruction.  The  fierce  tempes- 
tuous wind  ;sweeps  swiftly  through  the  deserted  streets  or  speeds 
wildly  over  the  surging  billows,  shrieking  weird  solemn  requiems 
over  the  perishing.  Everywhere  dense,  ominous  clouds  moving 
with  tremendous  energy,  writhing  in  endless  contortions,  betoken 
the  coming  cyclone.  The  condensed  moisture  of  worlds  seems  to 
be  suspended  over  the  defenceless  town.  Like  the  deluge  of  old 
it  is  poured  forth  in  furious  floods.  It  rushes  down  the  steep  de- 
clivities in  impetuous  torrents  uprooting  huge  trees  or  undermin- 
ing immense  boulders  in  its  resistless  course.  Shooting  through 
the  skies  on  their  mission  of  destruction,  the  vivid  lightnings,  in 
quick  succession,  pierce  the  gloom  with  flickering  light.  The 
booming,  bursting  thunder,  with  its  grumbling,  grinding,  noise, 
seems  to  be  ushering  in  the  knell  of  doom,  while  the  universe 
like  some  tiny  reed  before  the  wind  seems  to  be  on  the  very  brink 
of  dissolution." 


132 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


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HISTORY   OF  THE   SPENCER  BOOT 
AND  SHOE  PEG  INDUSTRY. 


Between  the  years  1825  and  1840,  there  were  four  peg  facto- 
ries in  Spencer  run  by  water  power  and  another  one  contem- 
plated by  Napoleon  B.  Prouty  for  erection  near  the  Horace 
Baldwin  place.  Mr.  Prouty  had  the  dam  partially  built  but  for 
some  unknown  reason  abandoned  the  enterprise.  Peg  making  at 
its  inception  was  a  very  primitive  industry,  the  birch  log  first 
being  sawed  into  blocks  the  right  length  for  the  pegs,  then 
marked  with  a  pencil  into  squares  of  the  right  dimensions  and 
then  with  a  long,  straight  knife  and  a  mallet,  split  to  size.  All 
that  was  now  needed  to  complete  the  peg  was  to  point  one  end 
and  this  was  usually  done  with  a  jackknife.  In  those  days  about 
every  boot  maker,  or  cobbler  as  we  would  now  call  them,  made 
his  own  pegs  and  when,  in  18 12,  Josiah  Green  commenced  making 
pegged  boots  on  the  wholesale  plan  he  made  what  pegs  he  used, 
chiefly  evenings  after  his  regular  day's  work  was  done.  By  1825 
there  had  been  developed  in  this  section  quite  a  demand  for  pegs 
to  supply  Mr.  Green,  Isaac  Prouty  and  the  Batchellers  of  North 
Brookfield,  who  had,  for  the  times,  become  quite  extensive 
manufacturers  of  boots.  A  more  rapid  way  of  producing  the 
pegs  was  sought  and  found,  by  the  use  of  a  hand  plane  with 
a  V  cutter  attached,  which  making  one  groove  at  a  time 
on  the  block  of  wood  and  one  groove  following  another  there 
was  soon  made  a  succession  of  them  covering  the  entire  sur- 
face; then  the  block  was  grooved  again  at  right  angles  and 
when  completed  presented  rows  of  peg  points  which  by  the 
use  of  a  knife  and  chisel  were  quickly  split  into  a  merchant- 
able product.  This  was  the  method  in  use  when  Alpha  Be- 
mis  about  1825  built  the  first  peg  factory  in  Spencer  on  what 
was  then  known  as  Pigeon  Brook  and  later  as  Cranberry 
Meadow  Brook,  a  stream  flowing  from  Cranberry  Meadow  Pond  by 
Howe's  Mills  and  into  the  Seven  Mile  river  near  the  present  filter 
beds.  The  Alpha  Bemis  mill  pond  was  on  the  stream  southwest 
of  the  railroad  and  two  hundred  and  twenty  rods  from  Cranberry 
Meadow  Pond.  There  had  been  a  dam  built  and  a  grist  mill 
erected  here  as  early  as  1813.  and  a  wire  mill  in  operation  as  early 
as  1816,  since  on   Jan.    10,    18 17,    "Elijah    Howe,    carpenter,  of 


134 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Spencer,  for  12  dollars  paid  me  by  Alpha  Bemis  of  said  Spencer," 
sold  all  his  "right  in  and  unto  a  certain  building  called  a  wire  fac- 
tory, with  all  the  apparatus  and  privileges  of  every  kind  which 
belongs  to  said  factory.  Said  factory  is  situated  in  the  south 
westerly  part  of  said  Spencer  on  Pigeon  Brook,  so  called,  and  on 
land  belonging  to  Jonas  Bemis." 

In  the  running  of  this  peg  factory   at  that  date  there  were 
probably  employed  as  a   regular  force  from  two  to  three  men,  as 


JOHN  BEMIS. 

Farmer,  born  in  Spencer,  March  6,    1792;   died  in   Spencer,  June  28, 

1S81.     Son  of  Nathan  Bemis   Sr.    and   great  grandson  of  Samuel 

Bemis  Sr.  Original  inventor  of  rotary  peg  cutting  machinery. 

many  young  women,  and  a  boy.  Ruel  Jones  and  Winthrop  Liv- 
ermore  are  known  to  have  worked  there  and  also  two  or  more 
young  women  by  the  name  of  Converse  and  a  boy  named 
Napoleon  B.  Prouty. 

This  boy  became  a  life-long  peg  maker,  and  it  may  be 
well  here  to  speak  of  his  earlier  history.  The  father,  William 
Prouty,  in  1798  married  Lydia  Hatch  and  kept  a  small  store 
on  upper  Main  street.  Thinking  to  improve  his  opportunity 
for  acquiring  wealth,  he  removed  to  New  York  City  and  engaged 
in  the  same  business.     It    was  here    that  Napoleon  B.  was  born, 


HISTORY    OF    BOOT    AND    SHOE    PEG     INDUSTRY. 


135 


Feb.  24,  1810.  About  18 14  Mrs.  Prouty  separated  from  her  hus- 
band and  returned  to  Spencer  with  five  children,  and  then  Napo- 
leon went  to  live  with  his  grandfather,  Isaac.  At  the  age  of  fif- 
teen we  find  him  learning  the  art  of  peg  making  at  the  mill  of 
Alpha  Bemis,  and  presumably  living  in  his  family.  This  factory 
had  not  been  in  operation  but  two  or  three  years  when  John  Bemis, 
father  of  Theodore  J.  Bemis,  conceived  the  idea  of  a  rotary  peg 
cutter,  and  after  some  experimenting,  succeeded  in  developing  a 
practical  machine  and  thus  became  the  pioneer  inventor  of  power 
peg  cutting  machinery.     He  at  once  utilized  the  basement  of  the 


PUNY  SNOW, 
Spencer  Peg  Manufacturer.     Father  of  John  W.  Snow  of  Leicester. 

Nathan  Bemis  saw  mill  as  a  workshop  and  commenced  the  manu- 
facture of  pegs  by  the  improved  process.  He  hired  Napoleon  B. 
Prouty,  then  about  twenty  years  of  age,  as  a  foreman,  and  also  two 
sisters  by  the  name  of  Witt,  Laura  and  Clara,  from  Huntington, 
the  latter  becoming  later  the  wife  of  Mr.  Prouty.  Business  with 
Mr.  Bemis  was  good  and  at  one  time  he  employed  eight  persons, 
but  for  some  unknown  reason  continued  the  business  only 
two  or  three  years  when  we  find  he  had  abandoned  the  same  and 
was  busily  engaged  in  placing  his  machines  in  other  factories  and 


J36 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


teaching  men  how  to  operate  them.  Presumably  he  had  done 
this  for  Alpha  Bemis,  and  now  we  find  him  fitting  up  a  peg  fac- 
tory for  Pliny  Snow,  on  the  Shaw  Pond  brook  near  the  house  of 
the  late  William  Robinson.  Previous  to  this  Mr.  Snow  had  been 
drawing  wire  at  his  little  mill  and  had  in  his  employ  one  of  the 
most  expert  wire  drawers  in  the  country,  with  a  prospect  ahead 
of  an  extending  and  profitable  business.  Ichabod  Washburn, 
then  a  small  wire  manufacturer  in  Worcester,  had  heard  of  thisex- 


DANIEL  BALL, 

Peg   and   L,ast   Manufacturer  at    North   Spencer.      His   father  and 
grandfather  Ball  were  both  named  Daniel.     His  father  was  con- 
stable and  collector  in  1S01-2  in  the  town  of  Spencer,  north 
of  the  Great  Post  road,  for  which  he  received  for  his  ser- 
vices .01 %  per  cent  in  1801  and   .02   per   cent    in  1S02. 
After  he  sold  his  peg  factory  to  Zenas  Draper  he 
built  a  small  shop  for  making  lasts   by  hand, 
which   is   now  standing,    the   last  "build- 
ing on  the  right  hand  side  on  the  road 
going   from   North    Spencer   to 
Browning   pond. 

pert  mechanic  and  was  determined  to  secure  his  services,  which 
he  did,  and  this  so  discouraged  Mr.  Snow  that  he  determined  to 
quit  the  business,  arguing  with  himself  that  there  w7ere  already 
men  enough  in  it  to  supply  any  probable  demand.  He  therefore 
took  out  all  of  his  wire  drawing  appliances,  stored  the  same  in  his 


HISTORY    OF    BOOT    AND    SHOE    PEG     INDUSTRY.  1 37 


barn  and  got  ready  to  make  pegs.  He  hired  Napoleon  B.  Prouty, 
who  purchased  a  house  near  by  and  prepared  to  commence  busi- 
ness. Ruel  Jones  was  also  engaged  and  two  sisters  by  the  name 
of  White,  one  of  whom,  Laurinda,  later  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Jones. 

At  about  the  same  time,  Daniel  Ball,  built  a  peg  factory 
on  a  small  stream  at  North  Spencer.  This  was  the  smallest  of  the 
four  factories.  By  1838  it  is  thought  the  manufacture  of  pegs  in 
Spencer  ceased,  from  the  most  natural  of  causes  and  one,  which 


THE  DANIEL  BAI,L  PEG   FACTORY, 

Which  was  built  on  a  small  stream  at  North  Spencer,  northwest  from  the  village 
toward  Browning  pond.  After  peg  making  became  impracticable  through  lack 
of  a  supply  of  suitable  timber,  he  sold  the  building  to  Zenas  Draper  who  moved  it 
to  a  lot  just  north  of  the  present  residence  of  Amasa  T.  Bemis.  The  window 
on  the  side  having  large  panes  of  glass  was  not  in   the  building  originally. 

seems  almost  incredible,  should  not  have  been  foreseen  by  the  pro- 
moters of  this  industry,  namely,  a  lack  of  timber.  The  supply, 
never  very  large,  was  soon  exhausted,  and  the  manufacturers  of 
pegs  had  to  seek  new  fields  in  which  to  pursue  their  avocation. 
Alpha  Bemis  did  not  purpose  going  out  of  the  peg  business,  but 
on  Aug.  22,  1837  purchased  a  saw  and  grist  mill  at  Royalston,  in 
which  he  had  been  making  pegs  for  several  years,  and  in  a  sec- 
tion where  there  was  a  bountiful  supply  of  birch  timber.  He  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  Silas  Jones,  a  citizen  of  Royalston,  and 
the  peg  business  was   there  carried   on  under   the   firm  name  of 


138  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


Bemis  &  Jones.  Ruel  Jones  also  went  to  Royalston  as  a  foreman 
in  this  factory,  Mr.  Bemis  all  the  while  living  in  Spencer. 
How  long  this  partnership  continued  cannot    now  be  determined. 

The  first  pegs  made  in  Spencer  were  at  the  Alpha  Bemis  peg 
factory,  and  the  last  ones,  according  to  Joel  Howe,  were  made 
at  the  same  place  from  timber  hauled  overland  from  Royalston. 
The  making  of  pegs  at  the  Pliny  Snow  factory  was  abandoned 
before  1838,  at  which  time  it  was  in  use  by  Otis  Newhall  as  a 
place  for  turning  posts  for  bedsteads,  and  later  was  demolished 
and  an  up-and-down  saw  mill  erected.  Daniel  Ball  about 
1837  sold  his  mill  to  Zenas  Draper,  a  carpenter  and  grand- 
father of  Deputy  Sheriff  Henry  P.  Draper,  who  purchased  a 
lot  just  north  of  the  present  residence  of  Amasa  T.  Bemis.  He 
loaded  the  mill  onto  a  low  truck,  having  small  wheels, 
and  secured  the  co-operation  of  his  friends  for  its  removal. 
Agreeable  to  promise  they  came  quite  early  one  morning  with 
twelve  yoke  of  oxen  and  the  mill  was  soon  on  its  way  to 
its  present  location.  It  took  two  days  to  complete  the  task, 
having  at  the  close  of  the  first  day  reached  the  valley  below 
the  Pliny  Allen  place.  Zenas  Draper  fitted  up  the  building  as  a  car- 
penter shop  where  he  did  odd  work  and  made  wooden  boot  cases 
for  Draper  &  Hall  in  Spencer  village  and  later  for  his  brother- 
in-law,  William  A.  Draper,  at  Worcester.  After  a  time  making 
boxes  by  hand  in  such  a  small  way  became  unprofitable  and  put- 
ting on  an  addition  to  his  shop  he  converted  the  whole  into  a 
dwelling. 

After  John  Bemis  had  taught  his  improved  methods  to  all 
the  peg  makers  in  this  section,  he  took  his  family,  moved 
to  Athol  and  there  instructed  Abraham  and  Ira  Oakes,  peg 
makers,  who  had  established  a  factory  in  1825  and  continued 
to  operate  it  for  thirty  years.  His  stay  with  them  was  about 
three  years  when  his  services  were  sought  by  parties  at  Muddy 
Brook,  Connecticut,  a  small  hamlet  in  Windham  County,  about 
six  miles  south  of  Dudley  and  presumably  in  a  region  of  large 
birches.  He  engaged  with  them  and  with  his  family  moved 
to  this  new  field  of  labor,  when  after  a  stay  of  about  three  years, 
he  returned  to  the  home  of  his  boyhood  and  settled  down  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer.  Had  he  patented  his  invention  he  might  have 
secured  quite  a  fortune  for  those  days. 

Napoleon  B.  Prouty  made  pegs  for  a  time  at  Woodstock, 
Connecticut,  before  his  engagement  with  Pliny  Snow,  and  soon 
after  the  latter  ceased  to  operate  his  factory,  moved  to  Chester 
near  Huntington,  his  wife's  home.  Here  he  went  into  partner- 
ship with  a  man  named  Day  and  continued  some  years,  when  in 
connection  with  a  son  he  established  a  separate  business  under  the 
name  of  N.  B.  Prouty  &  Son.     Here  he  was  successful  and  con- 


HISTORY    OF    BOOT    AND   SHOE    PEG     INDUSTRY. 


139 


tinued  in  the  business  until  the  infirmities  of  age  obliged  him  to 
relinquish  its  cares.  He  always  held,  however,  a  portion  ot  Spen- 
cer trade  and  Thomas  A.  Prouty  says  when  he  kept  store  he  used 
to  purchase  pegs  of  him,  a  hundred  bushels  at  a  time. 

His  daughter,  Sarah  J.  Prouty  of  New  Hartford,  Ct.,  writes 
August  28,  1 90 1,  concerning  her  father,  Napoleon  :  "He  had  an 
undercurrent  of  dry  humor  and  in  his  younger  days  was  fond  of 
a  joke  and  liked  a  good  story  immensely.     Once  during  a  severe 


NAPOLEON  BONAPARTE  PROUTY, 

Born  in  New  York,  Feb.  10,  1S10.     Died   at  Chester,   Mass.,  April  13, 

1896.     The  veteran   peg   manufacturer   learned   the  trade  in 

.Spencer  when   a   youth   and   followed   the  business 

until  old  age. 

storm  he  told  a  young  lady  he  never  knew  it  to  rain  but  once  and 
not  clear  off,  with  such  an  air  of  a  story  to  tell,  that  she  involunta- 
rily asked:  'When  was  that?'  He  used  frequently  to  relate  the 
quaint  stories  of  his  grandfather  Isaac  and  other  Spencer  worthies 
with  a  gusto  that  was  more  amusing  than  the  stories  themselves, 
but  years  of  ill  health  made  him  at  last  sober  and  retiring.  He 
always  retained  a  strong  affection  for  his  boyhood  home  and  many 
Spencer  names  are  as  familiar  as  household  words,  they  were  so 
often  on  his  lips.     He  was  neat  in  person,  gentle  and  courteous  in 


140 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


manner,  peaceful  in  disposition,  honest  and  upright  in  heart, 
painstaking  in  business  and  prompt  and  honorable  in  his  dealings 
with  mankind." 


RUEL  JONES, 

Son  of  Josiah  Jones,  born  Jan.  20,  1813;  married  to  I^aurinda  White,  Oct.  it,  1S3S;  died 
April  4,  1888.  This  half  tone  is  from  a  picture  taken  at  marriage.  He  was  a  school 
teacher,  peg  maker,  wooden  box  manufacturer  and  farmer.  After  the  powder  mills  on 
Moose  Pond  brook  exploded,  he  built  a  small  building  near  the  old  wheel  pit  and  made 
wooden  boxes  for  boots,  probably  for  Chas.  E  Denny.  The  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire  within  about  two  vears  after  its  erection.  This  little  mill  pond  has,  since  then,  always 
been  called  Ruel's  pond  In  his  earlier  years  he  taught  school  to  some  extent,  and  is  said 
by  Henry  H.  Kingsburv  to  have  been  a  "most  excellent  teacher.  It  is  the  consensus  of 
opinion  "of  our  older  citizens  that  Mr.  Jones  had  better  natural  gifts  as  a  debater  than  any 
other  man  Spencer  has  produced  in  the  last  one  hundred  years.  Before  he  became  bent 
with  age  he  could  always  be  depended  on  to  take  a  leading  part  in  town  meetings;  dis- 
cussing intelligently  almost  all  debatable  questions  He  was  a  most  persistent  advocate 
of  generous  appropriations  for  the  public  schools.  He  was  a  man  unusually  well  read,  in 
debate  quick  and  skillful  at  repartee,  and  his  illustrations  were  generally  to  the  point.  In 
the  days  of  the  Washingtonian  temperance  movement  he  is  said  to  have  made  some  very 
creditable  temperance  addresses.  To  illustrate  his  versatility  of  thought  it  is  related  of 
him  that  at  one  time  in  town  meeting  the  question  of  building  a  new  schoolhouse  on 
Pleasant  street  was  up  for  consideration.  Mr.  Jones  was  well  along  in  years,  lived  on  a 
farm  on  an  unfrequented  road  and  was  not  posted  on  modern  methods  of  heating  school 
houses  by  steam  generated  in  the  cellar.  The  estimates  of  expense  for  this  schoolhouse 
had  been  read  and  included  an  item  for  a  cellar.  Mr.  Jones  immediately  arose  and 
asked  if  he  understood  that  a  cellar  was  asked  for.  He  was  answered  in  the  affirmative: 
"Mr.  Moderator,"  said  he,  "I  don't  understand  what  this  means.  I  should  as  soon  think 
of  building  an  attic  to  a  tomb  as  putting  a  cellar  under  a  schoolhouse."  At  another  time 
after  the  Town  of  Spencer  had  acquired  the  control  of  the  Spencer  branch  R.  R.,  and  the 
question  came  up  for  regrading  the  roadbed,  he  spoke  in  favor  of  the  question  as  a  measure 
of  safety  to  the  traveling  public,  and  said:  "The  roadbed  is  now  so  crooked,  you  couldn't 
not  run  a  wheelbarrow  over  it  without  running  it  off  the  track."  His  presence,  voice  and 
gestures  are  needed,  however,  to  make  the  thoughts  as  alive  as  they  appeared  to  be  to  the 
hearers. 


HISTORY  OF   FIRST  CHURCH   BELL 
IN  SPENCER. 


The  bell  was  ordered  in  1801,  just  a  hundred  years  ago,  and 
Dexter  Bullard  Esq.  remembers  that  the  date  1801  was  east  on 
the  bell.  It  was  not  hung  probably  until  the  summer  of  1802  as 
a  tower  had  to  be  built  on  the  Congregational  church  for  its  re- 
ception.    The  records  which  follow,  largely  explain  themselves: 

"Preamble." 

" Proposals  of  Subscriptions  for  a  Bell. — Whereas,  much  has 
been  said  by  divers  persons  at  one  time  and  another  about  having 
a  Tower  Cupola  and    bell   to   the   meeting   house  in  Spencer,  but 


PIECE  OF  THE  OLD  CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH  BELL 

Which  was  melted  in  the  6 re   of  January    i,    1S62,   and   donated   to 
the  spencer  Museum  by  Nathan  Hersey. 

nothing  has  hitherto  been  done  by  any  person  to  bring  forward 
the  matter,  and  as  a  tower  cupola  and  bell  will  be  both  useful  and 
ornamental  to  the  town,  therefore  for  the  promoting  and  bringing 
forward  the  same,   We,  the  subscribers  whose  names  are  hereunto 


142 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


annexed  are  willing  to  advance  as  much  money  as  we  hereunto 
annex  to  our  names  respectively,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  purchas- 
ing a  bell  upon  the  following  conditions;  that  is,  if  the  Town  will 
come  into  any  measures  such  as  they  may  think  most  conducive 
to  their  peace  and  interest,  whereby  a  Tower  Cupola  shall  be  built 
and  finished,  that  the  payment  of  the  money  by  us  respectively 
subscribed  shall  be  secured  to  the  town  treasurer  for  the  time  be- 
ing by  our  Respective  Notes  or  Obligations,  which  shall  become 
due  and  payable  immediately  after  the  Tower  Cupola  shall  be 
raised  before  the  first  day  of  September  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  three  or  otherwise  to  be  void  and 
of  no  effect.  In  witness  whereof  we  hereunto  subscribe  our  names 
and  sums  annexed  in  dollars  and  cents  : 

Spencer,    March,    1801. 
Silas  Allen 
Ivory  Allen 
Levi  Baldwin 
Daniel  Ball 
David  Barnes  Jr. 
Ezekiel  Baxter 
Richard  Beers  Jr. 
David  Bemis 
Amasa  Bemis 
William  Bemis 
Nathan  Bemis 
Jesse  Bemis 
John  Bisco  Sr. 
John  Bisco  Jr. 
Jacob  Bisco 
Elijah  Bridges 
John  Butler 
Timothy  Capen 
James  Capen  Jr. 
Gersham  Comings 
Jedediah  Cutter 
John  Draper 
Benj.  Drury 
Eben  Drury  Jr. 
Jonas  Guilford 
John  and  Samuel  Gleason 
Moses  Hall 
Elisha  Harrington 
James  Hathaway 
Shadrach  Hathaway 
Kerley  How 
Elijah  How  Jr. 


$5 

00 

Moses  Livermore 

3  °o 

1 

00 

Enoch  Ludden 

1    17 

1 

00 

Ebenezer  Mason 

1   50 

1 

10 

Eliot  Mason 

12  00 

7 

25 

Betty  Mason 

1   50 

10 

00 

William  May 

4  00 

5 

00 

Caleb  Morse 

6  50 

5 

00 

Amos  Munrow 

5  00 

7 

00 

Johnathan  Monrow 

15  00 

10 

50 

John  Muzzy 

7  50 

8 

00 

Jonas  Muzzy 

9  99 

3 

00 

Edmund  Muzzy 

6  00 

i  1 

00 

Reuben  Newhall 

2   00 

5 

00 

David  Prouty 

10  00 

4 

00 

Nathan  Prouty 

10  00 

1 

00 

Isaac  Prouty  Jr. 

7  00 

1  1 

00 

Eli  Prouty 

4  50 

3 

00 

Seth  Snow 

3  00 

1 

00 

Thomas  Sprague 

5  00 

3 

00 

John  Stebbins 

20  00 

3 

00 

John  Sumner 

7  00 

5 

25 

William  Sumner 

3  °o 

10 

00 

Reuben  Underwood 

5  00 

1 

00 

John  Upham 

5  00 

5 

00 

Oliver  Watson  Jr. 

10  00 

5 

50 

Samuel  Watson 

6  00 

5 

00 

William  Watson 

9  00 

16 

01 

Jacob  Watson 

7   00 

5 

00 

James  Watson 

5  00 

2 

00 

William  White 

15  00 

6 

00 

Thomas  White 

10  00 

5 

00 

Samuel  White 

1   00 

Isaac  Jenks 

12   oo 

Ruth  Jenks 

5  oo 

John  Knapp 

6  oo 

Isaac  Lamb 

IO  oo 

Josiah  Q.  Lamb 

3  °° 

HISTORY    OF    FIRST    CHURCH    BELL    IN    SPENCER.  I43 

Nathan  and  David  White    4  00 
Reuben  Whittemore  8  55 

Jeremiah  Whittemore  6  00 

$443  82 

The  foregoing  is  a  true  copy  of  the  articles  of  subscription 
and  the  names  in  alphabetical  order  with  the  sums  annexed. 

JOHN  BISCO, 

Collector  of  the  Subscription. 

To  pay  for  the  Tower  the  town  voted  Aug.  24,  1801,  "to 
grant  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  building 
the  tower  and  cupola  to  the  meeting  house  in  said  town  to  be 
taxed  on  the  polls  and  estates  of  those  that  are  taxed  to  the  min- 
ister of  said  town." 

The  balance  of  the  money  needed  was  secured  by  sale  ot  floor 
space  in  the  meeting  house  on  which  to  build  pews.  There  were 
four  spaces  set  apart  for  this  purpose  and  sold  at  auction  Aug.  24, 
1 80 1.  Joseph  Garfield  bought  space  No.  1,  for  which  he  paid 
$120.00.  Silas  Bemis  paid  the  same  amount  for  space  No.  2, 
being  the  "first  pew  ground  on  the  left  hand  of  the  broad  alley 
and  gave  security  agreeable  to  conditions  of  sale."  Eli  Prouty 
bid  off  space  No.  3,  Thomas  Loring  No.  4,  price  not  given. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  7,  1803,  it  was  "  voted  that 
the  subscription  for  the  bell  with  the  subscribers'  names  be  recorded 
on  the  town  book."  "Voted  April  io,  1803,  to  have  the  Bell 
rung  twice  a  day,  viz:  at  twelve  o'clock  and  nine  in  the  evening 
and  on  the  Sabbaths  as  usual,  and  toled  at  funerals,  etc.,  and  to 
be  left  with  the  selectmen  to  employ  some  person  for  that  purpose. 
The  selectmen  have  agreed  with  Mr.  Josiah  Q.  Lamb  to  perform 
said  service  for  one  year  tor  $19.91." 

JOHN  BISCO,  Moderator. 
BENJ.  DRURY, 
JONAS  MUZZY, 
JAMES  W7ATSON, 

Selectmen  of  Spencer. 

John  Bisco,  Town  Treasurer  in  1802,  credits  himself  with  the 
following  payments,  made  on  account  of  the  bell  and  cupola  by 
paying  selectmen's  orders  as  follows: 

Order  35.  Paid  Daniel  Ball  twenty-five  dollars  for  money  ad- 
vanced for  raising  Tower. 

Order  47.  Paid  Nathan  Wilson  ten  dollars  for  money  advanced 
for  raising  the  Tower  and  Cupola. 

Order  55.  Paid  Daniel  Ball  three  dollars  for  his  services  in  un- 
derpinning the  Tower. 


144  SKETCHES   OF  SPENCER    HISTORY. 

Order  56.      Paid  Isaac  Jenks  $38.61    for  entertainment,    Raising 

the  Tower. 
Order  77.     Johnathan  Winslow  $6.00  for  his  service  and    Ropes 

to  Raise  the  Bell. 
Order  78.     Elisha  Harrington  $4.00  for  money  advanced  in  Rais- 
ing the  Tower. 
Order  83.     William    Knight   Jr.    $15.00    for   Iron   work  done  to 

the  Bell. 
Order  88.      Win.  Knight  Jr.  $2.50   for  making  spikes  for  Raising 

the  Tower. 
Order  94.     Josiah  Q.  Lamb  $7.30  for  hanging  the  Bell. 
Order  95.      Elijah  How  Jr.  $4.00  for  his  providing  timber  for  the 

Bell  Frame. 
Order  96.      William    Knight  Jr.    $5.00    for    work    done    for    the 

Tower. 
Order  106.      Jonas  Mnz/.y  $5.00  in   part   for   his  service  of  under- 
pinning the  Tower. 
Order  117.     Josiah    Q.     Lamb    $5.49    tor    service  done    for    the 

Tower 
Order  119.     Jonas   Muzzv    $300    for    his   purchasing  a   rope  for 

the  Bell. 
Order  120.     Jonas  Muzzy  $1 12.57  for  sheet  lead. 
Order  121.     Joshua  Lamb  $5.00  for  extra  service  about  the  Tower 

and  Cupola. 
Order  130.      Paid  Baxter  &  Lamb  $600.00  for  Building  the  Tower 

and  Cupola  to  the  meeting  house. 

And  in  1803: 
Order  41.     Win,    Knight   Jr.    $8.00    for    Iron    for    the   Bell   and 

Tower. 

About  noon  Jau.  1,  1862,  the  church  caught  fire  from  a  su- 
perheated stove  and  was  totally  destroyed.  The  bell  was  melted 
and  a  piece  of  the  same  picked  up  the  next  day  by  Nathan  Hersey 
who  donated  it  to  the  museum  in  1S74. 


PEAR    STORY    OF     EBENEZER 
MASON     JR. 


Ebenezer  Mason  Jr's  story  of  the  stolen  pears,  related  to  the 
author  by  his  grandmother,  Betsey  (Beers)  Adams,  who  received  it 
from  her  aunt  Sally,  wife  of  Mr.  Mason: 

Somewhat  over  a  hundred  years  ago  Ebenezer  Mason  Jr. 
kept  a   tavern   in   what  is  now  known  as   the    Mason   house   in 


BETSEY  BEERS. 

Daughter  of    Richard   Beers  Jr  ,    and   granddaughter  of    Beulah 

Bemis,  daughter  of  Samuel  Bemis  Jr.    Born  in   Spencer,  Jan.  7, 

1799;   died  in   Spencer,   Sept.     S,    1874.      She   married   Levi 

Adams  of  Brookfield.     Mother  of  the  late  Rosamond  D. 

Tower  and  of  Daniel  W.  Adams  of  Pleasant  street. 

the  Isaac  Prouty  &  Co.'s  shop  yard  and  just    fifty-nine  miles 
from   Boston,  according  to  the  sandstone  marker  in  front  of  the 


146 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


house  underneath  the  big  elms.  These  stones  were  erected 
by  order  of  the  General  Court  in  1 77 1 ,  a  mile  apart  between 
Boston   and  Springfield.     This  was   a  busy  place  in  those  days, 

when  nearly  all  the  travel  through 
the  state,  east  and  west,  passed  along 
the  Great  Post  Road.  Mr.  Mason 
not  only  kept  tavern  but  also  had  a 
tannery  across  the  road  and  near 
the  Moose  pond  brook.  The  ground 
east  of  his  house  was  used  as  a  gar- 
den and  in  this  he  had,  some  twenty 
feet  away,  two  pear  trees  of  quite 
large  growth.  In  those  days 
pear  trees  were  not  plentiful  and 
none  of  the  fruit  was  for  sale.  Every 
man,  if  he  had  pears,  must  grow 
them  or  else  go  without;  that  is, 
as  a  rule.  One  fall  these  trees  were 
loaded  with  fruit  nearly  ripe,  and 
presented  a  tempting  picture  to 
the  eye.  One  dark  night  in  Sep- 
tember Mr.  Mason,  who  slept  up- 
stairs on  the  east  side  of  the  house,  heard  an  unusual  rustling  of 
leaves,  and  on  listening  at  the  open  window  ascertained  that  some 
one  was  in  the  pear  tree.  Hastily  dressing  and  getting  his  lan- 
tern under  his  great  coat  he  was  soon  underneath  the  tree  and  had 
a  thief  treed.  He  spoke  kindly  to  him  and  asked  if  he  was  pick- 
ing the  best  of  the  pears,  and  advised  him  to  do  so,  if  such  was 
not  the  case.  All  was  quiet  but  in  a  short  time  the  thief,  doubt- 
less thinking  it  the  best  way  to  do,  slowly  descended  and  was  soon 
standing  beside  Mr.  Mason  with  nearly  a  half  bushel  of  pears  in  his 
basket.  To  Mr  Mason's  surprise  he  saw  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  town,  a  man  of  wealth  and  one  whose  character  was  above 
suspicion.  Now,  said  this  man.  I  am  ready  to  settle.  Let  me  off 
as  reasonably  as  you  can,  but  for  no  amount  of  money  would  I 
have  it  known  that  you  caught  me  in  the  act  of  stealing.  Well, 
said  Mr.  Mason,  I  can't  take  your  money  and  you  are  welcome  to 
the  pears,  and  you  must  take  them  home  with  you,  but  this  much 
I  will  do,  as  long  as  I  live  I  will  tell  the  story  but  never  reveal 
your  name,  and  he  kept  his  word.  Within  a  few  days  the  town 
was  busy  guessing  who  the  thief  could  be,  but  no  more  was  ever 
known;  and  this  is  doubtless  one  of  the  finest  examples  of  heaping 
coals  of  fire  on  a  neighbor's  head,  that  ever  occurred  in  the  town 
of  Spencer. 

When  the  Great  Post  Road  through  Spencer  was  resurveyed 
and  iu  many  places  straightened  and  rebuilt    by  the  county  in 


PEAR    STORY    OF    EBENEZER    MASON    JR. 


147 


1856,  a  large  quantity  of  land  and  rock  was  taken  from  the  north 
side  of  the  road  near  the  late  Calvin  Kent  house  and  dumped  in 
the  valley  below,  from  Mechanic  to  Wall  streets.  This  raised  the 
road  in  some  places  some  six  feet  and  in  the  filling-in  process  the 
milestone  became  buried  out  of  sight.  Some  years  afterward  Jere- 
miah Grout,  a  public-spirited  citizen  living  near  by,  determined  to 
resurrect  the  stone  and  did  so,  employing  to  do  the  work  one  John 


THE  MASON  HOUSE, 

Spencer  village,  built  by  Capt.    Ebenezer  Mason,  who  marched  from 

Spencer  with  a  company  of  minutemen  on   the   alarm  of 

April  19,  1775.     Formany   years  it  was  known  as 

the  Mason  tavern. 

Hart,  a  Frenchman,  long  in  his  service  as  a  gardener  and  general 
all-around  out-doors  workman.  Soon  after  the  stone  was  once 
more  in  position  as  a  marker  of  distance,  a  middle-aged  Spencer 
woman  came  walking  down  Main  street  on  the  south  side  and 
noticing  the  milestone  opposite  stopped  to  inquire  of  one  of 
our  most  prominent  business  men  then  passing  if  he  knew  who 
was  "buried  over  there:  "  "Strange,"  said  she,  "that  I  never 
should  have  seen  that  headstone  before."  He  dryly  told  her 
there  was  an  inscription  on  the  stone  which  would  give  her  the 
information  desired;  so  over  she  went  and  read  it  to  the  enlarge- 
ment of  her  understanding  and  the  mortification  of  her  pride. 


HORATIO   HA1J., 

Born  in  Spencer,  Aug.  12,  1S06  and  died  Oct.  20,  1901.  He  was  a  communicant  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  longer  than  any  other  member  living  and  was  a  lifelong,  con- 
sistent example  of  temperate  living.  He  followed  nearly  all  his  active  life  the  avocation 
of  a  boot  maker  and  from  about  1833  to  1838  was  engaged  with  William  A.  Draper  in 
manufacturing  boots  under  the  firm  name  of  Draper  &  Hall,  with  a  pl^ce  of  business  over 
what  was  then  a  store  owned  by  Walton  L,ivermore  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  Main 
and  North  streets.  The  firm  became  insolvent  during  the  great  financial  crisis  of  1837, 
and  failed  for  nine  thousand  dollars.  Unlike  many  they  did  not  try  to  effect  a  compromise 
with  their  creditors  but  said  to  them  if  they  could  have  time  they  would  try  to  liquidate 
their  indebtedness  and  this  they  were  enabled  to  do  by  the  close  of  the  following  year. 
This  hal  f  tone  is  from  a  photograph  taken  by  Chas.  F.  Pond  in  1900. 


SPENCER    DISTILLERIES. 


The  manufacture  of  gin,  and  probably  one  or  more  other 
kinds  of  distilled  liquors,  was  commenced  in  Spencer  in  1S13  on 
quite  a  large  scale  for  the  times.  The  incentive  for  inaugurating 
this  line  of  business  probably  lay  in  what  appear  to  be  the  facts, 
which  are  as  follows,  positive  information  in  regard  to  all  points 
being  unattainable:  Prior  to  the  War  of  18 12  with  England,  the 
principal  liquors  used  in  New  England  were  West  India  rum, 
and  New  England  rum,  so-called,  distilled  from  molasses  brought 
from  the  West  Indies.  At  the  opening  of  the  war  in  the  fall  of 
1812,  nearly  if  not  quite  all  our  available  shipping  fitted  out  as 
cruisers  to  prey  on  the  enemy's  commerce,  thus  shutting  off  the 
usual  method  of  transportation  between  the  West  Indies  and  New 
England.  It  also  appears  probable  that  our  ships,  after  the  dec- 
laration of  war  became  known,  could  not  have  obtained  a  cargo  in 
the  West  Indies  had  they  so  desired,  nor  would  the  English  have 
dared  to  have  sent  a  vessel  into  our  waters. 

Bad  Effect  of  the  Drink  Habit. 

Thus  it  seems  to  be  certain  that  there  was  a  shortage  of  rum 
in  New  England  as  early  as  the  spring  of  18 13,  and  no  remedy  at 
hand  except  to  make  liquors  from  some  other  substance,  for 
liquor  certaiuly  was  in  sharp  demand,  presumably  to  supply  men 
who  in  those  days,  even  as  now,  would  freely  sacrifice  the  most 
desirable  of  earthly  possessions  in  order  to  satisfy  their  appetite  for 
strong  drink,  and  doubtless  there  were  as  many  more  younger 
men  thoughtlessly  ready  to  follow  their  example.  Besides  there 
were  many  men  of  exemplary  character  and  strong  wills  who  were 
moderate  drinkers,  for  at  this  time,  the  evils  flowing  from  the  use 
of  intoxicants  had  not  in  any  appreciable  degree  excited  public  at- 
tention, nor  the  dangers  of  the  moderate  use  of  liquors  hardly  dis- 
cerned, and  so  the  best  sentiment  of  those  days  allowed  the  mod- 
erate use  of  liquor,  from  the  clergy  down,  as  a  phase  of  correct  liv- 
ing beyond  criticism.  It  is  certain  that  there  was  an  unusual  de- 
mand for  alcoholic  liquors  at  this  time,  a  short  supply,  high  prices 
and  a  read}'  sale  for  such  kinds  as  could  be  produced. 

Two  Large   Distilleries. 

It  was  at  such  a  time  and  under  such  circumstances  as  these 
that  two  distilleries  were  erected  in   Spencer.     These  were  in  size 


150  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

about  thirty  by  forty-five,  one  story  besides  a  basement  and  both 
very  high  studded.  Phineas  Jones  was  the  proprietor  of  one  that 
stood  near  the  Thomas  G.  Trott  place  and  Alpha  Bemis  owner  of 
the  other,  which  was  built  at  the  foot  of  what  afterwards  became 
known  as  Still  Hill  in  the  valley  east  of  the  railroad  and  the 
town's  highway,  and  south  of  Pigeon  or  Cranberry  Meadow 
Brook,  as  it  flows  along  just  after  passing  underneath  the  railroad 
above  Howe's  Mills.  Large  barns  were  also  built  near  by  in 
which  to  keep  cattle  that  were  fed  the  by-products.  Grist  mills 
either  had  been  built  for  general  use  or  else  were  built  but  a  short 
distance  away  for  use  during  some  process  of  the  preparation  of 
the  grain.  At  the  Phineas  Jones  distillery,  the  late  well  known 
citizens,  Alonzo  Temple  and  Nathan  Craig,  were  employed,  each 
on  an  alternate  service  of  twelve  hours  as  the  still  must  needs  run 
night  and  day.  It  appears  that  these  distilleries  became  a  sort  of 
an  evening  rendezvous  for  the  drinking  men  of  the  surrounding 
section,  and  that  some  from  over  indulging  in  the  use  of  the  liquor 
there  on  sale  became  hilarious  and  at  times  noisy.  On  this  ac- 
count it  was  arranged  that  Nathan  Craig,  who  was  very  deaf  and 
insensible  to  ordinary  noises,  should  sleep  from  bedtime  until  mid- 
night when  he  would  arise  and  take  up  the  work  relinquished  by 
Alonzo  Temple.  Gin  was  one  of  the  principal  liquors  distilled 
and  this  was  made  from  rye  with  the  essential  oil  of  the  juniper 
berry  to  give  it  color  and  flavor. 

Farmer  Sacrifices  Education  for  Drink. 

These  berries  grew  quite  plentifully  in  the  pastures  of  the  town 
and  a  certain  fairly  well-to-do  farmer  kept  his  boys  from  school  in 
order  to  pick  these  berries  which  he  exchanged  for  gin  for 
his  own  consumption.  Nathan  Craig,  who  was  a  highly  honora- 
ble citizen,  noting  this,  said,  "  If  ever  I  get  so  debauched  in  my 
mind  as  to  consent  that  my  children  be  deprived  of  an  education 
in  order  that  I  may  have  liquor  to  drink,  I  hope  the  Lord  will 
take  them  away  from  me."  As  it  has  ever  been,  the  presence  of 
distilleries  of  ardent  spirits  or  their  free  sale  in  any  community 
lowers  its  moral  tone,  so  it  proved  to  be  in  this  case  and  a  great 
many  of  the  best  families  in  Spencer  were  glad  when  these  stills 
were  abandoned  and  possibly  the  owners  were  too;  as  it  is  known 
that  later  Alpha  Bemis  became  a  staunch  advocate  of  total  absti- 
nence. It  is  thought  by  some  that  what  in  this  article  has  been 
called  the  Alpha  Bemis  distillery  was  really  owned  and  operated 
by  a  company  of  individuals,  but  the  late  Hiram  Howe  a  few  days 
before  his  recent  death  said  Alpha  Bemis  was  the  sole  owner,  and 
in  the  absence  of  other  equally  good  and  positive  testimony,  his 
declaration   will   probably   be  accepted   as  the    truth.     After  the 


INDIAN    BURIAL    GROUND.  151 

treaty  of  peace  in  18  r  5  distilling  in   Spencer   became  unprofitable 
and  was  soon  abandoned. 

Following  the  suspension  of  distilling,  the  use  for  which  the 
buildings  had  been  erected,  ceased,  and  they  stood  without 
a  purpose  for  many  years  except  as  a  place  for  general  storage,  and 
were  finally  torn  down  and  utilized  in  the  construction  of  other 
buildings.  The  Alpha  Bemis  distillery  building  was  leased  by  a 
man  named  Mason  and  operated  as  a  boarding  house  for  railroad 
workmen,  about  1835-6-7  or  during  the  years  that  the  then 
Western  Railroad  was  being  built  through  the  town.  About 
twelve  rods  from  the  dam  in  the  Alpha  Bemis  mill  lot  and  nearby 
the  location  of  the  distillery,  is  a  boulder,  shaped  somewhat  like 
the  Egyptian  pyramids.  Over  this  stone  was  built  a  bakery,  or 
bakery  and  house  combined,  when  the  construction  of  the  above 
railroad  was  first  begun  in  this  town.  Built  up  against  the  south 
side  of  this  boulder,  and  with  the  chimney  resting  partly  on  it, 
was  a  brick  oven  about  six  feet  long,  four  feet  wide  and  five  feet 
high.  This  stood  for  some  years  after  the  building  had  been 
removed,  and  portions  of  the  brick  comprising  the  foundation  may 
still  be  seen  imbedded  in  the  ground. 

Indian  Burial  Ground. 

Still  hill  refers  wholly  to  the  road  running  easterly  from  Still 
valley  up  an  incline  of  nearly  a  hundred  perpendicular  feet.  This 
used  to  be  the  favorite  coasting  place  for  the  boys  and  girls  of  that 
neighborhood.  The  top  of  the  hill  is  nearly  on  a  level  with  the 
railroad,  and  it  is  here  on  the  plain,  two  or  three  hundred  feet 
towards  South,  Spencer  that  the  only  Indian  burial  ground  in 
Spencer  is  known  to  exist.  When  the  railroad  was  being  built 
there  were  three  engineers  in  charge  of  the  section  through  Spen- 
cer and  they  boarded  with  Abraham  Capen  Sr.,  a  prosperous 
farmer  living  nearby  and  father  of  Abraham  Capen,  our  present 
townsman.  The  railroad  passed  through  this  level  and  sandy 
piece  of  land,  on  which  trees  seem  unwilling  to  grow,  making  a 
cut  of  from  four  to  five  feet.  It  was  here  that  skeletons 
were  found,  and  with  them  many  stone  implements  such  as  the 
Indians  bury  with  their  dead.  The  three  skeletons  first  exhumed 
were  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation  and  were  taken  on  boards 
to  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Capen  near  his  house,  and  there  left  for 
some  time  to  be  seen  by  the  public,  who  were  much  interested. 
After  this  they  were  buried  in  one  grave  in  a  nearby  field,  with 
suitable  headstones  which  have  since  been  razed  to  the  ground 
by  some  thoughtless  ploughman,  and  the  exact  location  lost. 
After  this  other  skeletons  were  excavated,  but  were  dumped 
with  the  gravel  in  the  deep  fill  farther  north.     There  is  now  quite 


152 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


a  plot  of  level  land  on  the  east  of,  and  adjoining  the  cut  men- 
tioned above,  which  to  all  appearances  was  a  part  of  the  Indian 
cemetery. 


The  following  pupils  attended  the  old  district  No.  9  school 
in  1892  and  were  all  in  one  class.  This  list  was  furnished  by  Mrs. 
C.  J.  Sage  of  Cherry  street;  she  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Capt. 
Willard  Rice  and  was  born  in  Spencer,  Jan.  29,  18 18: 

George  Frederick  Grout, 

Frances  Marion  Temple, 

Millins  Frederick  Prouty, 

Horace  William  Rice, 

Wallace  Whittemore, 

Lorenzo  Bemis, 

Moses  Bemis, 

John  Draper, 

Clementine  Drake, 

William  Drake. 


In  1798  the  assessors  of  Spencer  made  a  return  of  all  the 
houses  in  town  with  the  ground-floor  space  occupied  by  each  and 
the  number  of  windows  and  square  feet  of  glass  in  the  same. 
Those  belonging  to  the  Bemis  family  are  herewith  annexed. 


Name. 


Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 
Bemis, 


Joseph 
Nathan 
Nathaniel 
Joshua 
Silas    . 
Jonas  . 
Jesse    . 
Amasa 
Wm.  Jr 
David  . 


Stories  to 

Ground 

Number 

vSquare  ft 

House 

Area. 

Windows 

of  Glass. 

I 

900 

I  I 

45 

I 

I  I20 

12 

90 

I 

780 

7 

40 

I 

IO98 

9 

65 

I 

I  140 

4 

3  2 

2 

1 140  , 

25 

223 

I 

456 

2 

800 

1 1 

67 

2 

844 

18 

1 10 

I 

8lO 

10 

47 

Assessors 
Valuation 


$160 
400 
I50 
400 
200 
600 
50 
320 
322 
200 


BEAR    STORY    OF    JOSEPH     GAR- 
FIELD   SR. 


This  narrative  was  related  to  the  author  when  a  child,  by  his 
grandmother,  Polly  (May)  Tower. 

The  last  bear  killed  in  Spencer  was  shot  by  Joseph  Garfield 
Sr.,  about  the  year  1793.     He  owned  the   farm  occupied  later  by 


POLXY  MAY, 

daughter  of  William  May,  born  in  Spencer,  December  20,   1789,    died 

in   Oakham  September  8,    1865.     She   was  a  granddaughter  of 

David  May,  who  was  one  of  the  active  insurgents  in  shay's 

rebellion.     She    married    L,uke    Tower   of  Rutland. 

March  9.  1817  and  was  the  mother  of  the  late 

Ambrose  M.  Tower  of  Spencer. 

his  son,  Joseph  Garfield  Jr.,  where  Austin  Putnam  now  lives. 
Mr.  Garfield  discovered  the  bear  early  one  morning  on  a  wall  north 
of  his  dwelling  house.     The  wall  ran   east  and  west  and  divided 


154 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


his  mowing  from  his  woodland.  Quickly  going  to  the  house  he 
got  his  rifle  and  despatched  Bruin  at  the  first  shot.  This  was  an 
event  of  more  than  local  interest,  as  it  had  been  a  long  time  since 
a  bear  had  been  seen  in  Spencer.  He  divided  the  carcass  and  it 
was  distributed  among  his  neighbors,  a  portion  finding  its  way  to 


JOSEPH  GARFIELD  JR., 

who  inherited  the  farm  of  his  father  on  which  the  bear  was  killed. 

Born  January  4,  1S06.     Said  to  have   resembled  his  father  in 

a  marked  degree. 

Mr.  May's  table.  The  news  spread  with  great  rapidity  from 
house  to  house.  Everyone  told  everyone  else,  and  in  a  few  hours 
a  stream  of  people  on  foot,  horseback  and  in  wagons  were  on  their 
way  to  the  Garfield  farm.  Parents  came,  bringing  their  children, 
for  here  was  an  object  lesson  not  to  be  lost.  A  real  live  bear  had 
been  shot  and  nobody  knew  how  many  more  there  were  lurking 
about  in  the  bushes  ready  to  jump  out  and  eat  little  boys  and 
girls  who  had  incautiously  strayed  too  far  away  from  home,  and 
all  this  in  those  days  was  thought  to  be  the  proper  thing  to 
impress  on  the  children's  minds,  and  so  deeply  were  these  points 
stamped  on  the  mind  of  little  Polly  May,  that  even  after  she  had 
got  to  be  an  aged  woman  the  sudden  recollection  of  those  impres- 
sions caused  an  involuntary  shudder.  Of  course  all  the  visitors 
had  to  go  and  see  the  place  where  the  deed  was  done  and  congrat- 


REVOLUTIONARY    STORIES. 


155 


ulate  Mr.  Garfield  on  his  bravery  and  success.  The  skin  in  a 
few  days  was  taken  to  Mason's  tannery  in  the  village  and  when 
finished  was  made  into  a  leather   apron   for  the  use  of  Mr.  Gar- 


■■ 

'T^B^V  "»«' 

'    •'.'  '.-'1  , 

,,  . 

This  is  guaranteed  to  be  a    picture  of  a  section  of  the 

identical  wall  on  which  the  last  bear  killed  in 

Spencer    was    shot,    and    which    is  now 

standing  on  the    farm   of  Austin 

Putnam.  The  bear  however, 

is  not  guaranteed. 

field.  He  was  a  cooper  in  addition  to  being  a  farmer  and  had  a 
small  shop  16x18  where  he  made  and  repaired  cider  and  meat 
barrels  for  the  farmers  in  that  section  of  the  town. 


Revolutionary  Stories 

related  to  Geo.  W.  Bemis  by  Lieut.  Nathan  Craig,  a  revolution- 
ary soldier,  grandfather  of  Geo.  A.  Craig  Esq.,  and  never  before 
printed.  From  Bunker  Hill  there  was  a  narrow  neck  of  land 
stretching  to  Charlestown.  The  British  had  a  gunboat  at  a  con- 
venient distance  to  command  this  tract.  Lieutenant  Craig 
when  crossing  this  neck  with  two  companions  met  the  Americans 
retreating  and  they  also  started  to  go  back,  but  being  thirsty  he 
stopped  with  his  companions  at  a  well  having  an  old-fashioned 
sweep.  One  of  the  men  drew  a  bucket  of  water  and  resting  it  on 
the    curb    commenced    drinking,    when    a    cannon    ball    struck 


156 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


and  completely  demolished  the  curb.  The  trio  then  de- 
parted on  the  double  quick.  At  the  battle  of  Bennington  the 
British  soldiers  that  were  captured  were  tied  together  in  pairs  with 
a  rope  around  their  arms  and  this  was  fastened  to  a  rope  that  ran 


THE  WILLIAM  MAY  PLACE 

Built  on  the  west  end  of  lot  15,  probably  about  1742.     The  farm  descended  to  his 
son  David  May,  who  was  with   the   insurgents  in   Shay's  Rebellion  and  at 
Petersham,  was  one  who  fired  on  the  government  troops  wounding  Dr. 
David  Young.     Dr.  Young  sued  him  and  recovered  large  damages, 
which  took  the  whole  value  of  his  farm  to  satisfy.     He  removed 
to  Brattleboro,  Vt.,  where  he  died.     This  was  also  the  birth- 
place of  Polly  May. 

through  the  line  between  the  men.  There  was  also  a  prominent 
Tory  caught.  The  American  soldiers  fastened  around  his  neck 
the  rope  that  ran  between  the  soldiers  and  the  prisoners  were  then 
led  through  the  principal  streets. 


SPENCER  COMPANY  OF  MOUNTED 

MEN. 


"A  Muster  Roll  of  a  detachment  of  men  from  Capt.  John  New- 
hall's  company  from  Spencer  District,  of  Col.  John  Chandler  Jr.'s 
Regiment  that  marched  on  the  late  alarm  for  the  relief  of  Fort 
William  Henry  under  the  command  of  John  Newhall  as  their  cap- 
tain, from  Spencer  district  to  Sheffield,  being  94  miles." '  They 
were  gone  15^  days  and  each  private  received  2  lbs.,  1  shilling 
and  4  d.  for  his  services.  This  was  a  company  of  mounted  men 
and  the  colony  allowed  8d.    per  day  for  feed  for  the  horses  for  the 


THE  ORIGINAL  CAPT.  JOHN  NEWHALL  HOUSE. 

The  ell  part  of  this  house  is  the  original  Capt.   John   Newhall   house   built   in  1 741  and  said  to  be  the 

oldest  in  town.     In  later  years  it  has  been  known  as  the   Wm.  N.  Adams  place  and  is  the  last 

house  in  Spencer  on  the  Charlton  depot  road. 


158 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


two  days  they  were  detained  at  Sheffield,  the   balance  of  the  time 
being  taken  up  on  the  road.     The  muster  roll  was  as  follows  : 


Capt.  John  Newhall. 
Ensign  William  Bemis, 
Sergt.  Samuel  Garfield, 
Sergt.  John  White, 
Corporal  James  Wilson, 
Corporal  Jonathan  Stoddard, 
Lieut.  Joshua  Lamb, 
Sergt.  Caleb  Bridges, 
Sergt.  Joshua  Whitney, 
Corporal  Josiah  Livermore, 
Corporal  Richard  Southgate, 
Private  Oldham  Gates, 
Jonas  Bemis, 
David  Prouty, 
Edmund  Bridges, 
Thomas  Bridges, 
Benj.  Woodward, 
Nathaniel  Parmenter, 
Timothy  Capen, 
Solomon  Clarke, 


Private  William  Morgan, 
James  Prouty, 
Richard  Beers  Jr., 
John  Wooster  Jr., 
Daniel  Bacon, 
Ephraim  Brown, 
Nathan  Whitney, 
Ebenezer  Washburn, 
John  Cunningham, 
Oliver  Seager, 
John  Giltord, 
Ebenezer  Drury, 
Isaac  Bridges, 
Nathan  Barton, 
Thomas  Wood, 
Israel  Holton, 
James  Draper, 
Samuel  Garfield  Jr., 
James  Ormes. 


1 1 


Total  cost  for  the  company's  service  78  pounds,    19  shillings, 
'•  pence.     This  was  in  1759. 


HON.  G.  W.  BEMIS. 


The  subject  of  this  brief  biography  might  truthfully  quote,  as 
equally  applicable  to  himself,  the  opening  sentence  of  the  Memoirs 
of  General  Grant  :  "  My  family  is  American  and  has  been  for 
generations,  in  all  its  branches,  direct  and  collateral,"  and  to  the 
believer  in  the  potency  of  hereditary  influences  in  the  formation  of 
character,  he  affords  an  example  of  the  cumulative  results  of  such 
an  ancestry.     Thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit   of  our  institu- 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  BEMIS, 
of  Independence,  Iowa.       (Photo  by  G.  A.  Craig.) 

tions,  cherishing  an  unwavering  faith  in  the  ultimate  universal 
establishment  of  the  fullest  human  liberty,  and  recognizing  no 
social  distinction  based  upon  any  foundation  other  than  personal 
merit,  he  presents  a  striking  type  of  the  ideal  American. 

The  son  of  Eleazer  Bemis.  he  is  a  descendant,  in  the  paternal 
line,  of  Joseph  Bemis,  an  English   yeoman  who  emigrated  to  this 


l6o  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


country,  settling  in  Watertown,  near  Boston,  in  1640,  and 
through  his  mother,  Susan  Hartwell,  of  William  Hartwell,  who 
located  in  Concord,  Mass.,  in  1636.  Patriotism,  industry  and 
integrity  seem  to  have  been  the  salient  qualities  which  marked  his 
progenitors,  and  instances  ot  exceptional  longevity  point  to 
exemplar)^  habits  and  well-conducted  lives. 

George  Washington  Bemis  was  born  October  13,  1826,  at 
Spencer,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  until  1S37,  when  his  father 
removed  to  Alabama,  Genesee  county,  New  York.  This  change 
of  residence  was  an  event  of  no  small  moment,  and  involved  a 
journey  of  man)'  days,  fraught  with  more  adventures  and  possible 
dangers  than  are  now  incident  to  an  ocean  passage  or  trans-conti- 
nental tour.  The  section  of  New  York  into  which  he  was  thus 
brought  was  then  a  part  of  the  ever-advancing  frontier,  and  he 
gave  a  sturdy  lad's  assistance  in  the  arduous  labor  of  subduing 
the  rugged  face  of  nature  to  the  needs  of  civilization.  This  task 
performed,  his  summers  were  spent  in  working  on  the  farm  which 
he  had  helped  to  wrest  from  the  surrounding  wilderness,  and  his 
winters  were  devoted  to  making  the  best  use  of  such  advantages 
as  were  offered  by  the  primitive  country  school.  The  list  would 
be  a  long  one  which  included  the  names  of  all  the  men  of  prom- 
inence who  owe  much  of  their  success  to  the  efforts  of  the  Yankee 
pedagogue  of  that  period,  whom  Halleck  describes  as 
******         "teaching 

The  ABC  from  Webster's  spelling  book, 
Gallant  and  godly,  making  love  and  preaching, 

And  gaining  by  what  they  call  '  hook  and  crook,' 
And  what  the  moralists  call  over-reaching, 
A  decent  living." 
A  course  at  the  Gary  Collegiate  Seminary  at  Oakfield  supple- 
mented this  instruction,  and  that  he  profited  by  every  educational 
opportunity  is  shown  by  his  early  election  to  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  the  township  schools.  His  interest  in  political  matters 
dates  from  the  presidential  campaign  ot  1840,  and  in  1848  he  dis- 
gusted his  father — an  ardent  Whig —  by  casting  one  of  the  eleven 
anti-slavery  ballots  "  which  leavened  the  lump  "  of  four  hundred 
polled  in  that  district  for  the  opposing  candidate.  He  remained 
an  enthusiastic  and  uncompromising  Abolitionist  throughout  the 
struggle  which  terminated  in  emancipation.  He  has  always,  too, 
been  a  zealous  advocate  of  woman  suffrage.  He  taught  school  for 
two  years  in  Wisconsin  and  in  April,  1854,  came  west  to  visit  an 
acquaintance.  So  enamoured  did  he  become  of  the  broad  and  fer- 
tile prairies  of  Iowa  during  his  stay  that  he  determined  to  adopt 
Independence  as  a  place  of  residence,  and  went  into  the  land  busi- 
ness. Shortly  afterward  he  became  engaged  to  Miss  Narcissa  T. 
Roszell  and,  in  the  February  of  1855,  he  went  to  New  York, 
whither  the  young  lady  had  preceded  him,  and  brought  her  back 
his  wife.     This  proved  an  exceptionally  happy  marriage— a  union 


HON.    GEORGE    W.    BEMIS. 


161 


of  congeni.;l  tastes  and  hearty  co-operation  of  progressive  aims. 
It  was  blessed  by  three  children  :  May,  who  did  not  long  survive 
early  womanhood,  and  William  S.  and  Arthur  R.,  young  men 
who  have  now  established  homes  of  their  own. 

Mr.  Bemis  was  elected  a  member   of  the  Eighth  General  As- 
sembly in  1859,  and  served  in  the  lower  house  during  the  regular 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON   BEMIS, 

Of  Independi  visiting    the    schoolhouse  of  hi-  youth  at 

District   No.    2,    Spencer,    Mass.,   in    [89S.     Photographed   by 

George  A.   Craig,    Esq.      His  father   Eleazer,    was   a 

grandson  of  Capt.  Edimmd  Bemis,  and  lived 

on  the  Daniel  Chickering"  place,  prior 

to  his  removal  West  in  1S37. 

every  heart  there  is  some  cherished  spot. 
Some  scenes  which  lime  and  distance  never  blot  ; 
We  love  the  mansions  where  our  kindred  dwelt, 
We  love  the  altars  where  our  fathers  knelt. 
We  love  the  classic  hall,  the  tranquil  shade, 
Where  in  the  studious  hours  of  youth  we  strayed  : 
And  when  we  mingle  in  the  busy  strife 
Of  steruer  cares,  that  mark  maturer  life, 
Their  forms  are  loved,  revered,  remembered  still, 
That  curbed  our  passions,  and  controlled  our  will, 
And  opened  to  the  mind's  inquiring  eye. 
Fountains  of  thought  that  time  can  neve' 


session  of  i860.  It  may  be  of  some  interest  to  mention,  as  an 
illustration  of  the  changes  wrought  in  a  few  decades,  that  four 
days  and  three  nights   were   consumed   in    going   from  Independ- 


l62 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


HON.    GEORGE    W.    BEMIS.  163 


ence  to  Des  Moines,  and  that  the  capital  had  neither  a  railroad  nor 
a  telegraph  line  at  that  time.  The  session  lasted  nearly  three 
months,  and  the  legislators  had  to  deal  with  business  of  great  im- 
portance, including  a  revision  of  the  Code,  and  an  attempt  to 
mitigate  the  "hard  times"  then  existing  by  remodeling  the  rev- 
enue laws.  Mr.  Bemis  introduced  an  important  bill  in  relation  to 
the  duties  of  county  surveyor  and  was  largely  instrumental  in  sub- 
stituting the  present  supervisor  system  for  the  then  existing  coun- 
ty judge  rule.  The  extra  or  "war  session"  which  followed  in 
June,  1 86 1,  was  one  that  demanded  action  in  affairs  of  much  mo- 
ment, and  in  all  the  deliberations  he  took  a  prominent  part,  his 
sagacious  influence  being  very  apparent.  As  one  of  a  special  com- 
mittee of  five,  he  was  sent  to  investigate  the  construction  of  the 
insane  asylum  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  out  of  which  some  ugly  scandal 
had  arisen,  and  he  performed  other  and  important  duties. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term,  he  was  made  a  postal  clerk 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  between  Dubuque  and  Sioux  City, 
a  position  which  he  held  for  seven  years.     In  the  fall  of  1869  he 


The  Joseph  Bemis  House, 

Cut  of  which  is  shown  on  opposite  page,  was  situated  on  lot  80,  where  Captain  Edmund, 
father  of  Joseph,  settled.  Joseph  Bemis  was  born  in  Spencer  November  20,  1752,  and  died 
January  17,  1823.  His  wife  Jemima  (Craig)  Bemis,  was  born  in  Leicester,  September  19, 
1759,  died  in  Spencer  July  21,  1S4S.  She  was  a  sister  of  Nathan  Craig  of  Bunker  Hill  fame. 
This  house  was  built  probably  about  1S20,  and  it  was  here  that  George  W.  Bemis,  son  of 
Eleazer  Bemis,  was  born.  Sylvanus  Bemis  son  of  Joseph,  was  an  expert  carpenter,  and 
made  by  hand  all  the  window  frames,  sash  and  doors  for  this  house. 


was  appointed  by  Governor  Merrill,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Independence,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Albert  Clarke,  and  he  acted  as  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Board  until  his  resignation  in  December, 
1 87 1.  He  was  reappointed  by  Governor  Carpenter  in  April,  1872, 
and  served  in  the  same  capacity  until  July,  1892,  during  which 
time  he  received  and  disbursed  more  than  a  million  dollars.  He 
was  elected  from  Buchanan  county  to  the  State  Senate  in  1871, 
and  was  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  members  of 
that  body,  giving  to  its  records  little  in  the  way  of  oratory,  but 
much  service  in  a  conscientious  application  of  practical  business 
judgment  to  the  questions  which  presented  themselves  for  consid- 
eration. He  served  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the  State 
University  and  was  one  of  the  committee  on  appropriations.  He 
also  secured  for  the  hospital  at  Independence,  without  a  dissent- 
ing voice  in  the  Senate,  an  appropriation  of  $200,000,  the  largest 
ever  granted.     He  was  chosen  Treasurer  of  State  in  1876  and  re- 


164  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


elected  in  1878,  conducting  the  affairs  of  that  extremely  respon- 
sible office  in  such  a  manner  as  to  win  expressions  of  general  ap- 
proval. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  supervisors  of  Bu- 
chanan county  and,  apropos  of  his  candidacy  for  that  office,  he 
once  told  an  amusing  and  characteristic  anecdote.  On  the  day  of 
the  election  he  returned  from  an  eastern  trip  to  learn,  with  sur- 
prise, of  his  nomination.  The  struggle  was  an  intensely  hot  one, 
party  feeling  ran  high  and  the  result  of  the  battle  was  in  great 
doubt.  He  started  for  the  polls  with  the  modest  intention,  as  in 
previous  instances,  of  voting  for  his  opponent,  but  it  occurred  to 
him  on  the  way  that  he  was  no  more  justified  in  "scratching" 
than  any  other  voter,  and  he  deposited  a  straight  ticket  in  the  box. 
"1  received  a  majority  of  exactly  one,"  he  concluded,  "and  so 
became  the  choice  of  the  people." 

Mr.  Bemis  is  of  rather  more  than  medium  stature  and  some- 
what full  habit.  His  physiognomy  and  the  general  contour  of  his 
head  recall  portraits  of  Charles  Darwin,  and  in  many  respects  he  is 
not  unlike  that  eminent  iconoclast.  A  long  public  career  has  left 
him  with  an  unblemished  reputation.  He  has  held  great  pecuni- 
ary trusts  with  an  integrity  that  has  never  known  the  shadow  of 
suspicion,  and  in  ever}'  situation  he  has  been  thechampion  of  tem- 
perance and  sound  morality.  It  is  fitting  that,  with  good  health, 
a  keen  relish  for  all  intellectual  and  wholesome  recreation,  sur- 
rounded in  his  pleasant  home  by  the  friends  and  neighbors  of  a 
half  a  century,  he  should  be  able  to  sav  with  Adam,  in  "As  You 
Like  It"— 

"Therefore  1113  a  lust}-  winter, 

Fri  >stv,  but  kindly. " 


This  sketch  was  written  by  Stephen  Tabor. 


GENEALOGY    OF     JOSEPH     BEMIS 

OF  SPENCER,  MASS.,  AND  OF  HIS  DESCENDANTS. 


I 

Daniel, 

2 

Mary, 

3 

William, 

4 

Patty, 

5 

Susan, 

6 

Eleazer, 

7 

Sylvanus, 

8 

Sally, 

9 

John, 

o 

Franklin, 

i6, 

1782, 

d. 

Sept. 

16, 

22, 

1734, 

el. 

Aprii 

10, 

1S77. 

27> 

1786, 

d. 

July 

12, 

'*73- 

27. 

i7<s9. 

23, 

1791. 

(1. 

Tune 

5, 

1856. 

'7. 

1793. 

d. 

Aug. 

*5. 

1873. 

IN, 

I796. 

d. 

May 

29. 

1884. 

7> 

d. 

Nov. 

1850. 

13. 

1801, 

(1. 

Aug. 

28, 

1883. 

1 , 

d. 

July 

14. 

1863. 

JOSEPH  BEMIS  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Edmund  Bernis  and 
grandson  of  Samuel  Bemis  Sr.,  both  of  Spencer. 

JOSEPH  BEMIS  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3, 
Joseph  2,  John  r;  b.  at  Spencer,  Nov.  20,  1752;  d.  Jan  17,  1823; 
m.  Jemima  (Craig)  b.  at  Leicester,  Sept.  19,  1759;  d.  July  21,  1841. 

Children. 

b.  June 

b.  Feb. 

b.  Aug. 

b.  Jan. 

b.  June 

b.  Nov. 

b.  June 

b.  Aug. 

b.  Dec. 

b.  Feb. 

DANIEL  BEMIS  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5.  John  4, 
Joseph  3,  Joseph  2;  John  1 :  b.  June  16,  1782,  in  Spencer,  Mass. ;  d. 
Sept.  16,  1863,  in  Plymouth,  Wis.;  m.  Charlotte  Wheelock,  Nov. 
181 1  :  b.  Nov.  1,  1790,  in  Charlton,  Mass.;  d.  May  31,  1857,  in 
Plymouth,  Wis.  Removed  lrom  Spencer,  Mass. ,  between  Sept., 
1S13,  and  Oct.,  1816;  removed  to  Byron,  Genessee  Co.,  X.  Y., 
between  1827  and  1833;  removed  to  Alabama,  Genessee  Co., 
X.  Y.,  between  1827  and  1837  ;  removed  to  Plymouth,  Wis.,  in 
1844. 

Children. 

1  William,  b.  Apr.  24,  1812,   d.  June    2,  1S92. 

2  Edmund,  b.  Sept.  25,  1813,   d.  June    7,  1884. 

3  Albert,  b.  Oct.  27,  1816,   d.  Feb.  14,   1890. 

4  Jervis  Orlando,  b.  Aug.  11,  1818,   d.  Oct.      3,  1901. 

5  George  Washington,  b.  July  30,  182 1. 

6  Kiron  Wheelock,        b.  June  11,  1824. 

7  Charlotte  Wheelock,  b.  Feb.  11,  1827. 

8  Jerome  Bonaparte,      b.  Feb.  17,  1833. 


1 66 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY 


WILLIAM  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel 
5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Apr.  24,  18 12,  in  Spen- 
cer, Mass.;  d.  June  2,  1892,  in  Plymouth,  Wis.;  m.  Polly  Jones. 


Children. 


1  Helen. 

2  Cora. 

3  Duressa. 

4  Amber. 


EDMUND  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel 
5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1 ;  b.  Sept.  25,  18 13,  in  Spen- 
cer, Mass.;  d.  June  7,  1884,  in  Monmouth,  Col.;  m.  Louisa  Hall, 
in  Elba,  N.Y.,  Feb.  12,  1837  ;  b.  in  N.  Y.,  Feb.  18,  1817. 


Children. 


Maria  Louisa, 


b.  May  10,  1841,  in  Alabama,  N.  Y. 
d.  at  Silverton,  Col.,  Aug.  16,  1875. 
Delephene  Charlotte,  b.  Feb.  17,  1844,  i°  Alabama,  N.  Y. 
d.  Oct.  17,  1862,  at  Evansville,  Wis. 
b.  Oct.  18,  1845,  d.  Mar.  5,  1847. 
b.  in  Alabama,  Genessee  Co.,N.  Y. 
b.  July  29,  1850,  in  Wisconsin, 
b.  Dec.  3L  1854,  d.  Oct.  3,  1862, 
in  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


Frank, 

Horace  Greeley, 
Charles  Edmund 
Luella 


MARIA  LOUISA,   m.  Samuel  L.  Wallihan,   at   Evansville, 
Wis.,  Nov.  17,  1857. 

Children. 

b.  July   4,  i860,  d.  Feb.  7,  1864. 
b.  May   5,  1865. 
b.  Sept.  13,  1S67. 
b.  Aug.  20,  1870. 
b.  May   5,  1873. 


Maud, 

Edmund  Percey, 
Ernest  Collier, 
Lucy  Maria, 
Helen  Bemis, 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

HORACE  GREELEY,  m.  Addie  Carnahan,  at  Carson  City, 
Col.,  Oct.  6,  1876. 

Children. 

1  Kate  May  b.  Apr.     8,  187S,  at  Monument,  Col. 

2  Clyde  Horace,  b.  Sept.  14,  1886,  at  Longmont,  Col. 

CHARLES  EDMUND,  m.  Addie  Souther,  Sept.    14,    1889, 
at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

Children. 

b.  June   26,  1890,  d.  July  26,  1890 
at  Corina,  Cal. 

2  Waldo  Ldmunci,  b.  July    26,  1891,  at  Corina,  Cal. 

3  Harold  Winston,  b.  Dec.     10,  1893, 

4  Muriel  Winnona,  b.  Feb.    15,  1895, 


Charles  Worthy 

Waldo  Edmund, 
Harold  Winston, 
Muriel  Winnona, 


GENEALOGY    OF   JOSEPH    BEMIS    AND    DESCENDANTS.         167 

ALBERT  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel 
5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1  ;  b.  Oct.  16,  1816,  at  Ham- 
ilton, Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  d.  Feb.  14,  1890,  at  Evansville,  Wis.; 
m.  March  23,  1842,  to  Martha  Ann  Fowle,  b.  Dec.  25,  1820, 
in  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. 

Children. 

1  Jacob  F.,  b.  June    27,  1844,  in  Rock  Co.  Wis. 

2  Louise  J.,  b.  Jan.     20,  1847. 

3  ^ar'  J  b.  Feb.     28,  1850.  *'  fch-  28'  l85°- 

4  Edwin,  j  °      d.  Apr.      4,  1850. 

5  Arthur  L.,  b.  Feb.    28,1851. 

JACOB  F.,  m.  Maria  Cogwell,  May  8,  1873;  she  d.  Jan.  21, 
1880. 

Children. 

1  Annie  B.,  b.  Feb.    27,  1874,   m.  Elmer  E.  Scoville. 

2  Marie,  b.  Nov.  11,  1878. 

JACOB  F.,  m.  2d  time,  Caroline  Roberts,  Nov.  28,  1889. 

ANNIE  B.,  m.  Elmer  E.  Scoville. 
Children. 

1  Earl  B,  b.  July      1,  1891. 

2  Maurice  Lee,  b.  July      4,  1899. 

3  Elmer  Ellsworth,  b.  Feb.     19,  1900. 

LOUISE  J.,  m.  Feb.  21,  1867,  Louis  J.  Haines;  Haines  d. 
Mch.  31,  1888. 


I 

Albert  L., 

b. 

Mch. 

3i. 

1871. 

2 

Lottie  M., 

b. 

Feb. 

28, 

1875- 

3 

Martha  L., 

b. 

Dec. 

'4- 

1883. 

4 

William  L., 

b. 

Apr. 

3- 

1886. 

ARTHUR  L.,  m.  Flora  R.  Withington,  Nov.  28,  1874.  She 
was  b.  June  5,  1851. 

Children. 

1  Albert  W.,  b.  Apr.      7,1878. 

2  Lillian,  b.  Nov.   22,  1879. 

JERVIS  ORLANDO  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7,  Ed- 
mond  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Aug. 
11,  1818,  at  Hamilton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  m.  Dec.  19,  1841,  to 
Eunice  Marie  Bump,  b.  May  1,  1823  in  Byron,  Genessee  Co., 
N.   Y. 


l68  sketches  of  spencer  history. 

Children, 

i  Daniel  Duane,  b.  July  3,  1843. 

2  Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  Sept.  4,  1845.   d.  Wis. 

3  George  Atward,  b.  June  7,  1847.   d.  Wis. 

4  Frank  Angelo,  b.  June  1,  1849. 

5  Kiron  Jervis,  b.  Dee.  24,  1853. 

6  Fred  Herbert,  b.  Jan.  8,  1856. 

7  John  Bently,  b.  Aug.  24,  1858. 

8  Charlotte  Amanda,  b.  July  22,  1S61. 

DANIEL  DUANE  BEMIS.  son  of  Jervis,  b.  July  3,  1843; 
m.  Annett  W.  Henderson,  Jan.  8,  1868.  She  was  b.  Jan.  23, 
1844  at  Beloit,  Wis. 

Children. 

1  Harry  Henderson,  b.  Dec.  12,  1868. 

2  Julia  Lee,  b.  Sept.  9,  1870. 

3  Kate  Marie,  b.  June  6,  1872. 

4  Aurela  Lee,  b.  Nov.  13,  1873. 

5  Nettie  Eunice,  b.  Dec.  21,  1875. 

6  Elizabeth  Bell.'  .  b.  Dec.  8,  1877. 

7  Clarence  Herbert,  b.  June  9,  1881. 

HARRY  H.  BEMIS,  b.  Dec.  12,  186S;  m.  June  10,  1897  to 
Lida  A.  Perry;  b.  Aug.   18.   1 - 

Children. 

1  Julia  Lee,  b,  Sept.     9,   1870;   m.       Now       27, 

1892  to    Thomas    E.    Williams,    b. 
Aug.  — .  1869. 

2  Kate  Marie,  I).  June  6,   1872;  m.   June   20,    1893 

to  John    C.    Spangler    of  Ohio;    b. 
July   16,   1870. 
Daniel   Duane  Bemis  served  through  the  Civil  War  in  a  Wis- 
consin regiment. 

ELIZABETH  ANN,  daughter  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis,  b.  Sept. 
4,   1845;  m.  James  M.  Pool  (b.  May  17,   1845)  March  8,   1S67. 

Children. 
1     Marvin  Bemis  Pool,     b.  Aug.  21,  1S81 ;  m.  Grace  Young, 

Sept.  13,  1S93. 

Children. 
1     Dorothy  Grace  Pool,    b.  Aug.  19,  1895. 

GEORGE  ATWARD  BEMIS,  son  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis,  b. 
June  7,  1847;  m.  May  10,  1873  to  Caroline  Mary  Barkly;  b.  Jan. 
28,  1853;  d.  Oct.  1,  1883. 


genealogy  of  joseph   bemis  and  descendants.       1 69 

Children. 

1  Eunice  Delphene.  b.  Jan.  3,    1S74;    m.    Oct.    4,    1893, 

Kurt  E.  McElhiney. 

2  Jervis  Kiron,  b.  Nov.      3,   1876. 

3  Bently  Ambrose,  b.  Sept.  28,  1878. 

4  George  Ray,  b.  May    25,   1SS2. 

EUNICE  DELPHENE  McELHINEY. 

Children. 

1  William  Bemis,  b.  Dec.     3,  1895. 

2  Hazel  Marie,  b.  June  21,   1897. 

FRANK  ANGELO  BEMIS,  son  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis,  b.  June 
I,   1S49;  m.  Lucy  Cory;  b.  April  6,   1852. 

Children. 

1  Ivah  Betsey,  b.  June   23,   [872. 

2  Fanny  Dale,  b.  Nov.   18,  1873. 

3  Harvy  Bently,  b.  April,  14,    ; 

4  Kiron  C<.ry,  b.  Jan.     13,  1879. 

5  Eunice  Lucy,  b.  April  10,  1881.     d.  Dec.  8,  1881. 

6  Lotty  Cory,  b.  June   14,  1883. 

IVAH  BETSEY  BEMIS,  m.  Aug.  13,  1893  to  Albert  J. 
Christler;  b.  July  9,  1873. 

Children. 

1  Lucy  Elizabeth,  b.  June    23,  1S94. 

2  Bently  John,  b.  Aug.     3,   1S96. 

KIRON  JERVIS  BEMIS,  son  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis;  b.  Dec. 
24,  1852  ;  m.  June  2,  1887,  to  Wilhelmina  Onderdonk  Gesner, 
b.  in  Ohio,  May  30,   1 

Children. 

1  Jean  Marguerite,  b.  Aug.    16,   1888. 

2  Frances  Gesner,  b.  Aug.   13,  1889. 

3  Jeanette  Eunice,  b.  May    23,  1891. 

4  Charlotte  Elinor,  b.  July     22,  1894. 

5  Berenice  Willa,  b.  Mch.  18,  1897. 

FRED  HERBERT  BEMIS,  sou  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis  ;  b.  Jan. 
8,  1856;  m.  Mch.  28,  1883,  Cora  Bell  Dean,  b.  Nov.  10,  1859.  d. 

Children. 
1     Herbert  Dean,  b.  Dec.     17,  1SS4. 

3     Jervis  Orlando,  b.  July       7,  1886,  d.  May  11,  1888. 

3     Fred  Parker,  b.  Aug.      9,  1891. 


170  SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

JOHN  BENTLY  BEMIS,  son  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis;  b.  Aug. 

24,  1858,  m.  May  15,  1884,  to  Nannie  Cooper  Hamilton,  b.  July 

25,  1862. 

Children. 

1  Fay  Hamilton  Bemis,  b.  Sept.    14,  1885. 

2  Harold  Bemis,  b.  Sept.    25,  18^7,  d.  Feb.  22,  1889. 

3  Bently  John,  b.  Sept.    14,  1890. 

4  Marjorie  Cambridge,    b.  Mar.     7,  1893. 

CHARLOTTE  AMANDA,  daughter  of  Jervis  O.  Bemis;  b. 
July  22,  1 861;  m.  Nov.  27,  1884,  to  Philip  Parker,  b.  Jan.  30, 
1859. 


Children. 

I 

2 

3 
4 

Philip  Walter, 
Fred  Bemis, 
Eunice  Deborah, 
Richard  M., 

b.  Dec.    22, 
b.  Jan.     14, 
b.  Mar.    1 1, 
b.  Jan.       4, 

1885. 
1890. 
1892. 
1894,  d.  July  25,  1894. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7, 
Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b. 
July  30,  1821,  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  m.  Sophia  J.  Bump,  b. 
Aug.  17,  1825. 

Children. 

1  Florence,  lone,  b.  Mch.  27,  1849;  m.  Medor  Jerome 

DeLent,  b.  Mch.  16,  1851,  d.  Apr. 
26,  1899;  m.  Dec.  22,  1873. 

Children. 

1  Flora  May,  b.  Mch.     6,  1875. 

2  Louis  William,      b.  Apr.  2,  1886,  d.  Mch.   20,  1889. 

2  Flora  R.  Bemis,  b.  Oct.  1858,  m.  Wm.  S.  Bemis,  March 
27,  1881. 

Children. 

1  George  Arthur,  b.  Apr.   27,  1S84. 

2  William  Seward,  b.  Jan.     29,  1891. 

3  Louis  Medor,  b.  Dec.  23,     1893. 

KIRON  WHEELOCK  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7,  Ed- 
mund 6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  June 
11,  1824,  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.;  m,  Rachael  Wheeler. 

Children. 

1  Orrin  Wheeler  Bemis. 

2  Edgar  Marsh  Bemis. 


GENEALOGY    OF   JOSEPH    BEMIS    AND    DESCENDANTS.         171 

CHARLOTTE  WHEELOCK  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph 
7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b. 
Feb.  n,  1827,  in  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.;  m.  Abraham  Asa  Boyce, 
Oct.  7,  1846;  he  was  b.  June  12,  1821;  d.  Feb.  14,  1894. 

JEROME  BONAPARTE  BEMIS  9,  Daniel  8,  Joseph  7, 
Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1 ;  b.  Feb. 
17,  1833,  in  Byron,  Genessee  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  m.  Mary  E.  Clifford, 
Aug.  31.  1862;  b.  May  8,  1840,  in  Maine. 

Children. 

1  May  C,  b.  July  27,  1863;  m.  Lewis  Fellows, 

Sept,  7,  1886. 

2  Ollie  M.,  b.  Apr.  1,    1865;   m.    Fred  S.    Fel- 

lows, Oct.  7,  1884. 

3  Asa  B.,  b.  Feb.  22,  1869;  m.  Blanch  Vevoin, 

July  31,  1895. 

Children. 
1     Marion  L.,  b.  June   14,  1896. 

4  Kittie  C.  b.  Jan.       3,  1871;       m.    Robin    A. 

Manville,  Sept.  10,  1892. 

5  Grace  M.  b.  Oct.       1,  1878;    m.  Charles  Off, 

Oct.  9.  1897. 

Children. 
1     Lillian  M.,  b.  Apr.    15,  1899. 

KIRON  W.  BEMIS  moved  from  Alabama,  Genesee  Co.,  N. 
Y.,  in  1844  to  Plymouth  Rock  Co.,  Wisconsin.  He  was  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Plymouth  for  many  years;  also 
member  of  the  County  board  of  supervisors  of  Rock  County;  also 
member  of  the  legislature  of  Wisconsin  in  1858;  afterwards  re- 
corder of  deeds  of  Rock  County.  He  held  a  position  in  the  provost 
marshal's  office  by  appointment  of  the  government. 

SUSAN  BEMIS  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John  4, 
Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  June  23,  1791,   at  Spencer,  Mass.; 
d.  June  5,  1856;   m.   Joel  Wilson;  b.   July  31,  17S7 ;  d.  Aug.  15, 
1859- 

Children. 

1  Chester,  b..  Oct.     4,  181 1.  d.  Jan.  22,  1890. 

2  Wilbur,  b.  July      2,  1813.   d.  Dec.  10,  1871. 

3  Winthrop,  b.  Aug.  25,  1816.  d.  Jan.  28,  1887. 

4  Susan,  b  d.  Apr.   -,  1856. 

5  Joeljun.,  b.  May    21,  1820,  d.  Nov.  9,  1849. 

6  Jane,  b.  Apr.      7,  1826,  d.  Feb.  25,  1887. 

7  Mary  Ann,  b:  May    27,  1828.  d.  June  -,  1872. 


172  SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 

CHESTER  WILSON  9,  Susan  S,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Oct.  4,  1811;  d. 
at  Jamaica,  Vt.,  Jan.  22,  i< 


I 

Marion  D., 

2 

Ansella  D., 

3 

Luella  M., 

4 

Edgar  M., 

5 

Adella  M., 

WILBUR  WILSON  9,  Susan  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Sam- 
uel 5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  July  2,  1813;  m. 
Sarah  Demond  of  Rutland,  Mass. 

Children. 

1  Sarah. 

2  Chauneey  P. 

3  Walter  J. 

WINTHROP  WILSON  9,  Susan  S,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Aug.  25,  18 16; 
m.  Cornelia  Lamb  Wheelock  of  Charlton,  Mass.,  Sept.  13,  1841; 
b.  May  3,   18 18. 

Children. 
b.  June    14,  1846.   d.  Sept.  25,  1849. 
b.  Dec.     24,  1849. 
b.  Aug.    15,  1852. 
b.  May      6,   1^55. 
b.  Sept.    13,   1S5S. 
LUELLA  M.,  m.  Harlan    P.  Morse,  Dec.    21,    1881;  b.  July 
2,  1855. 

Children. 
Arthur  Wilson,  b.  Nov.      2,  1883. 

Everett  Harlan,  b.  Oct.     12,    1885. 

SUSAN  WILSON  9,  Susan  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel 
5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  Susan  Wilson  m.  Thomas 
Foley,  of  North  field,  Vt. 

Children. 

1  Thomas. 

2  James. 

JOEL  WILSON  JR.  9,  Susan  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1 ;  Joel  Jr.  b.  May  21 , 
1820;  m. 

Children. 

1     George;  m.  Emma  Tolman  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

Children. 
1  George  Jr. 

JANE  WILSON  9,  Susan  8,  Joseph  7;  Edmund  6,  Samuel 
5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  Jane  b.  April  7,  1826;  m. 
Dea.  James  I.  Goulding,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  June  5,  1873. 


(.ENEALOGY    OF    JOSEPH    BEMIS    AND    DESCENDANTS.  1 73 

MARY  ANN  WILSON  9,  Susan  S,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  Mary  A.  b.  May 
27,  1828;  m.  Sewell  Wheeler 

Childkex. 

1  Frank. 

2  Mary. 

3  Susan. 

4  Ella. 

5  Anna. 

ELEAZER  BEMIS  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John 
4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Nov.  17.  1793,  Spencer,  Mass.; 
d.  Aug.  11,  1S73;  m.  Susan  Hartwell,  Sept.  2,  1822;  b.  June  7, 
1802;  d.  Aug  16,  1834;  m.  2nd  time,  Julia  Huntington,  Oct.  12, 
1837;  b.  1818;  d.  Men..  20,  1892. 

Children. 
(by  first  wife 

1  Jane,  b.  July    29,  1S24;  d.  Jan.  12,  1833. 

2  George  W.,  b.  Oct.     13,   1826,  Spencer,  M 

3  Susan  Hartwell,  b.  Apr     11,  1832;  d.  June  20,  1899. 

GEORGE  W.  BEMIS  9,  Eleazer  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4;  Joseph  3;  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b  Oct.  13,  1S26, 
Spencer,  Mass.;  m.  Apr.  1  1,  1835,  Narcissa  T.  Roszelle,  Alabama, 
Genessee  Co.,  N.  Y. ;  d.  Aug.  9,  1899. 

Children. 

1  May  B.,  b.  June  27,   1857;  m.  Oct.  16,  1S79, 

in  DesMoines,  Iowa    to  William  D. 
Lee;   d.  June  S,   1883. 

2  William  Seward,  b.  Sept.  27,  1859,  in  Independence, 

Iowa;  m.    Apr.,  17,    1 881,  to  Flora 
R.  Bemis,  in  Janesville,  Wis. 

Children. 

1  George  A.,  b.  Apr.    27,  18S4. 

2  William  S.  Jr.,       b    Jan.     29,   189 1. 
4     Louis  Medor,         b.  Dec.    23,  1893. 

3  Arthur  Roszelle,  b.  Dec.    6,  :S62;  m.   May  31,  1894, 

to   Birdie   May  Ahern;  b.  Oct.  15, 
1875- 
Children. 

1  Xarcissa  May,        b.    May  27,    1895;  d.  Oct.    2,   1895. 

2  Arthur  Roszelle  Jr.,  b.  Sept.  28,  1897. 


174  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

ELEAZER  BEMIS  moved  from  Spencer,  Mass.,  to  Alabama, 
Genessee  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  Oct.,  1837,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
on  which  he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Aug.  15,  1873. 

SUSAN  HARTWELL  BEMIS  9,  Eleazer  8,  Joseph  7,  Ed- 
mund 6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph   2,   John  1;    b.  April 

11,  1832;  m.  April  8,  1862  to  Elijah  Town;  b.  July  24,  1827. 

Children. 
1  Charlotte  Z.,  b.  July   31,    1865;  m.  July  31,  1900 

to  Charles  W.    Ferris;  b.    April  2, 

1865. 

Children. 

1  Paul  Eugene,        b.  May    9,  1901. 

2  Mary  Hartwell,     b.  Aug.  20,  1869;  d.  July  17,  1885. 

3  Susie  H.,  b.  June  24,  1872. 

WILLIAM  BEMIS  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6,  Samuel  5,  John 
4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Aug.  27,  1786;  d.  July  12,  1873; 
m.  Aug.  27,  1820,  Samantha  Hollenbeck;  b.  in  1804;  d.  Nov.  16, 
1852. 

Children. 

1  Joseph  Craig,  b.  Oct.     22,    1821;    d.  Jan.  27,  1894. 

2  Mary  Lucy,  b.  Feb.      6,    1826;   d.  Aug. 17,  1896. 

3  Daniel  Webster  b.  Oct.     19,  1828. 

4  Sarah  L.,  b.  June   11,  1831. 

JOSEPH  CRAIG  BEMIS  9,  William  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund 
6,  Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Oct.  22,  1821; 
d.  June  27,  1894;  nl-  Lucia  Annie  Wood  of  Woodstock,  Vt.,  Dec. 

12,  1848.     She  was  b.  Dec.  30,  1823;  d.  Jan.  29,  1882. 

Children. 
1      William  E.,  b.  Oct.  22,  1849;  m.  July  25,  1883, 

Mary  Watts;  b.  July  4,  1857. 

Children. 

1  Florence  E.,  b.  June     4,  1884. 

2  Alice  C,  b.  July    14,  1853,   m-  Dec-  H<  J886 

to  George  A.  Sturtevant;  b.    March 
5,   i860. 

Children. 

1  Ray  Atherton,       b.  Feb.     9,  1889. 

2  A.  Edith,  b.    Sept.    27,    1862;    m.    Sept.    20, 

1888   to  Harry    A.   Sturtevant;   b. 
July  4,  1864. 


GENEALOGY    OF   JOSEPH    BEMIS    AND    DESCENDANTS.         175 


CHILDREN  • 

i  Lucia  E.  b.  March   10,  1890. 

2  Wallis  H.,  b.  April     22,  189 1. 

3  George  C,  b.  October  3,  1892. 

4  Dorothy  Bemis,  b.  Dec'br  30,  1896. 

JOSEPH  CRAIG  BEMIS  served  through  the  Civil  War  in 
a  Massachusetts  regiment. 

MARY  LUCY  BEMIS  9,  William  8,  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  Feb.  6,  1826; 
d.  Aug.  17,  1896;  in.  July  6,  1852,  Leander  Bartlett;  b.  in  1822; 
d.  Nov.  2,  1856. 

Children. 
1      William  Leander,  b.  March  28,  1853;  m.  Jan.  2,  1879 

to  Mary  Frances  Cushing;   b.  July 
26,   1856. 
Children'. 
1      William  Cushing,  b.  March  28,  18S6;  d.  Aprils,  1886. 

DANIEL  WEBSTER  BEMIS  9,  William  8,  Joseph  7, 
Edmund  6,  Samuel  5  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b. 
Oct.  19,  1828;  m.  Aug.  5,  1853  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.  to  Mary 
Hughs;  b.  Oct.   12,    1833. 

Children. 

1  Maud,  b.  Jan.   6,  1855  in  Illinois;  d.  Aug. 

16,  1855. 

2  Walter  Herbert,  b.  Aug.  3.  1857,  Fitchburg,  Mass.; 

d.  Feb.  1 8,  1 86 1. 

3  Mary  Elsa,  b.  Sept    18,  i860,  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

4  Richard  Percival,  b.  Sept.   11,  1862;  m.  June  20,  1894, 

Anna  Stuart  Welsh. 

5  Ralph  Emery,  b.  April  26,  1872. 

SARAH  L.  BEMIS  9,  William  8.  Joseph  7,  Edmund  6, 
Samuel  5,  John  4,  Joseph  3,  Joseph  2,  John  1;  b.  June  11,  1831. 

DANIEL  W.  BEMIS  was  a  civil  engineer,  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  location  and  construction  of  railroads  in  different 
states,  also  in  Mexico.  About  1875  he  surveyed  for  John  Oilman 
and  others  a  railroad  projected  to  go  through  the  Wire  Villages  in 
Spencer.  He  served  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment  in  the  Civil 
War. 


176 


SKETCHES    OF    SPENCER    HISTORY. 


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BEM1S    MEMORIAL     PARK. 


The  agitation  of  a  memorial  to  Samuel  Bemis  brought  about 
more  extended  results  than  the  Board  of  Trade  committee  antici- 
pated. 

The  original  plan  was  to  have  the  monument  n  ear  the  road- 
side where  passing  travelers  could  readily  stop  and  read  the  in- 
scription. Mr.  Thomas  A.  Prouty,  who  then  owned  the  Bemis 
homestead  grounds,  kindly  donated  land  for  this  purpose  and  a 
foundation  was  put  in.  Some  of  the  family,  however,  were  not 
wholly  satisfied  with  the  location.  Mr.  Walter  C.  Bemis,  taking 
an  active  interest  in  the  matter,  and  being  very  desirous  that  the 
monument  should  be  placed  near  the  site  where  Samuel  Bemis 
built  his  first  house,  purchased  the  original  house  lot  of  ten  acres 
with  the  intent  of  making  it   available  for  that  purpose. 

Through  the  generosity  of  Mrs.  Phoebe  Anna  Bemis,  the 
committee  were  given  the  privilege  of  appropriating  the  whole  or 
so  much  as  they  thought  desirable  for  the  purpose — the  gift  to  be 
in  memory  of  her  husband,  Chandler  Bemis  and  his  brothers, 
Joshua  Emerson  Bemis,  Edwin  Amasa  Bemis,  Eorenzo  Bemis  and 
sister,  Persis  Newell  Bemis,  late  wife  of  Dexter  Bullard,  and 
children  of  Amasa  Bemis  Jr. 

At  a  meeting  of  members  of  the  committee  and  members  of  the 
Bemis  family,  about  three  acres  of  this  tract  of  land  was  selected 
and  it  was  suggested  that  the  place  be  called  Bemis  Memorial  Park. 

Through  the  generosity  of  a  great  grandson,  George  W. 
Bemis  of  Independence,  Iowa,  a  monument  to  Capt.  Edmund  Be- 
mis will  be  erected  in  the  park  this  fall,  and  it  is  thought  later  one 
to  the  memory  of  Lieut.  Jonas  Bemis  Sr.,  and  one  in  honor  of  the 
fourteen  grandsons  of  Samuel  Bemis  who  served  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  will  be  erected  through  the  generosity  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Bemis  family. 

The  Park  is  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  nine  trustees  to 
beautify  and  embellish  as  they  think  best.  The  trustees  are  to  re- 
ceive and  expend  such  funds  as  may  be  placed  in  their  hands  for 
such  a  purpose. 

When  the  trustees  so  decide  and  it  is  agreeable  to  the  town 
of  Spencer  they  are  to  deed  the  same  to  the  inhabitants  thereof  to 
be  kept  and  known  forever  as  "Bemis  Memorial  Park." 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  trustees: 

Walter  C.    Bemis,    Henry  M.   Tower,  John  G.   Avery,  Dr. 


178 


SKETCHES    OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 


SAMUEL.  BEMIS  MONUMENT.  {Photo  by  Currin.) 


BEMIS    MEMORIAL  PARK.  1 79 

Alonzo  A.  Bemis,  George  A.  Craig,  Dr.  Ephraim  W.  Norwood, 
Henry  Bemis,  E.  Harris  Howland,  Joel  S.  Bullard. 

The  Trustees  would  also  like  funds  with  which  to  erect  a 
suitable  log  cabin  for  a  care-taker  of  the  grounds,  and  to  put  in  an 
old-fashioned  well  sweep,  and  believe  in  time  monej'  will  be  forth- 
coming for  such  purposes.  When  all  the  work  outlined  is  com- 
pleted the  Park  will  be  a  most  delightful  place  for  public  resort, 
a  place  of  just  pride  to  the  Bemis  family  and  the  town  of 
Spencer,  and  its  educational  value  to  the  youth  of  each  succeeding 
generation  beyond  computation. 

Below  is  a  complete  list  of  donors  to  the  monument  fund: 

Allen,  Mrs.  George  A. 

Avery,  Mrs.  John   G. 

Adams,  Allen 

Bemis,  Lewis  T. ,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Henry,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Lewis  D.,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Theodore  J.,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Henry  W.,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Frank  B.,  Boston,  Mass 

Bemis,  Cheney,  Spencer 

Bemis,  George  E.,  New  York  City 

Bemis,  H.  E.,  Boston 

Bemis,  Eugene,  Boston 

Bemis,  Joshua,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Mrs.  David,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Amasa  T.,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Charles  E-,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Tilly,  Brookfield 

Bemis,  George,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Anna,  Spencer 

Bemis,  David,  Leicester 

Bemis,  Alvin  H.,  Dell  Rapids,  So.  Dakota 

Bemis,  H.  C,  Spencer 

Bemis,  John  E.,  Goodwin,  So.  Dakota 

Bemis,  Charles,  South  Bend,  Indiana 

Bemis,  Albion  F.,  Foxboro,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Prof.  Edward  W.,  New  York 

Bemis,  A.  Edwin,   Worcester 

Bemis,  Mrs.  George  2d,  Spencer 

Bemis,  Emily  P..  Spencer 

Bemis,  Eleanor  E.,  Boston 

Bemis,  Henry  E.,  Lebanon,  Kansas 

Bemis,  Moses,  Worcester 

Bemis,  George  H. 

Bemis,  Waldo  L. 

Bemis,  Oscar  W. 


180  SKETCHES   OF   SPENCER    HISTORY. 

Bemis,  Harvey  W. 

Bemis,  Jonas,  Charlton  Depot,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Jonas  Jr.,  Charlton  Depot,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Harriet,  Charlton  Depot,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Hattie,  Charlton  Depot,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Mrs.  Florence  Adams,  Charlton  Depot,  Mass. 

Bemis,  Sarah  J.,  Worcester 

Bemis,  Adna  D.,  Welchville,  Maine 

Bemis,  Frank  W. 

Bemis,  Albert  D. 

Bemis,  Herbert  B. 

Bemis,  Milton  Amasa,  age  one  month 

Bemis,  Alonzo  Amasa  D.  D.  S. 

Bemis,  Mrs.  Nellie  I. 

Burkill,  Mrs.  A.  Mattie 

Bullard,  Joel  S.,  Spencer 

Comins,  Mrs.  Pamelia  K.,  Spencer 

Converse,  Mrs.  George  C,  Brookfield 

Capen,  H.  H.,  Spencer 

Capen,  Miss  Elida  M.,  Spencer 

Conger,  Mrs.  F.  E.,  North  Brookfield 

Curtis,  Miss  Anna  S.,  Spencer 

Clark,  Mrs.  C.  Bemis,  Spencer 

Desoe,  Mrs.  Edward  G.,  West  Springfield 

Drury,  Frank  A.,  Spencer 

Drury,  Mrs.  Franklin,  Spencer 

Draper,  Mrs.  H.  P.,  Spencer 

Denison,  Elias  Bemis,  Portland,  Maine 

Denison,  William  B.,  Newton,  Mass 

Estey,  Mrs.  Florence 

Fanning,  Mrs.  Ida 

Guilford,  Miss  P.  Maria,  Spencer 

Green,  Mrs.  E.  M.,  Spencer 

Harrington,  Mrs.   C.  G.,  Worcester 

Harlow,  Miss  Margaret,  Worcester 

Howland,  Henry  P.,  Spencer 

Howland,  Lewis,  Brookfield 

Howland,  E.  Harris,  Spencer 

Howe,  Charles  S.,  Brookfield 

Heffernan,  William  J.,  Spencer 

Jones,  Asa  T.,  Colorado  Springs,  Colorado 

Jones,  Jarvis  H. 

Jones,  Warren  J. 

Jones,  Frank  E. 

Jones,  Marion  J. 

Luke,  Mrs.  Lydia  Howe,   West  Newton,  Mass. 

Lamb,  Mrs.  A.  George,  Worcester 


BREATHES   THERE    THE    MAN.  181 


Merrick,  Mrs.  Estes  L,.,  Spencer 

Norwood,  Mrs.  E.  W.,  Spencer 

Prouty,  Mrs.  George  P.,  Spencer 

Smith,  Mrs.  Fred  P.,  Spencer 

Starr,  Mrs.  Flora  E. 

Smith,  Mary  L.  Howe,  Brookfield 

Sawyer,  Mrs.  Emma 

Angella  N.  Spooner,  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 

Tower,  Henry  M.,  Spencer 


Breathes  There  the  Man. 

SIR  WALTER  SCOTT. 

Breathes  there  the  man  with  soul  so  dead 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said, 
This  is  my' own,  my  native  land  ! 
Whose  heart  hath  ne'er  within  him  burned, 
As  home  his  footsteps  he  hath  turned 
From  wandering  on  a  foreign  strand  ! 
If  such  there  breathe,  go,  mark  him  well; 
For  him  no  minstrel  raptures  swell; 
High  though  his  title,  proud  his  name, 
Boundless  his  wealth  as  wish  can  claim, 
Despite  those  titles,  powers,  and  pelf, 
The  wretch,  concentrated  all  on  self, 
Living,  shall  forfeit  fair  renown, 
And,  doubly  dying,  shall  go  down 
To  the  vile  dust  from  whence  he  sprung, 
Unwept,  unhonored,  and  unsung. 


IN   CONCLUSION. 


The  author  is  not  an  apologist  by  nature  and  seeks  not  on  the 
contents  of  this  book  the  "kindly  indulgence  of  a  critical  world." 
He  has  made  an  earnest,  and  as  he  believes,  a  worthy  endeavor  to 
gather  historical  treasures  and  present  them  in  permanent  form 
for  general  use,  and  all  this  of  necessity  had  to  be  accomplished  in 
less  than  four  months,  in  addition  to  attending  to  his  business  as 
usual.  Could  more  time  have  been  taken  no  doubt  the  text  might 
have  been  improved  and  the  matter  better  classified  and  arranged. 
The  work  has  been  projected  and  finished  with  Lincoln's  motto  in 
mind,  "Do  your  best.     If  not  that,  then  the  best  you  can." 

The  writer  has  not  consciously  "drawn  upon  his  imagination 
for~f acts", 'and  no  unqualified  statement  has  been  made  unless  it 
appeared  to  be  the  truth. 

The  author  has  taken  much  pleasure  in  compiling  this  work 
and  trusts  the  same,  as  a  whole,  may  meet  the  approval  of  his 
fellow-citizens. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Henry  M.  Tower,  3 

Paul  Dudley  Esq.,  8 

Ye  Narragansett  Fort  Fight,  12 

Obadiah  Wood's  Seal,  20 

Bemis  and  Wood  Map,  23 

House  of  Nathan  Bemis  Sr. ,  24 

House  of  Nathan  Bemis  Jr.,  25 

House  of  Hannah  Green,  26 

House  of  Cheney  Bemis  Sr. ,  27 

Cheney  Bemis  Sr.,  28 

John  G.  Avery,  31 

Rude  Log  Cabin,  32 

The  Stealthy  Indian,  33 

Joshua  Bemis,  36 

Moses  Bemis,  37 

George  Bemis,  38 

Persis  (Guilford)  Jones,  4° 

Persis  (Bemis)  Guilford,  42 

Soapstone  Kettle,  43 

Indian  Pestle  and  Axe,  44 

Joel  Howe,  45 

Foster  Bemis,  49 

Lewis  Bemis,  5° 

William  Bemis  Sr.,  House  of  51 

Jonas  Bemis  Sr.,  House  of  52 

David  Bemis,  53 

Old  Sun  Dial,  54 

The  Bemis  Elm,  55 

Pair  of  Andirons,  56 

Edmund  Bemis'  Powder  Horn,  58 

Seven  Mile  River  Bridge,  63 

Chloe  (Bemis)  Livermore,  64 

Spencer  Scenery,                                                                   ,  65 

Drive  in  Spencer  Public  Park,  67 
Bemis  Hill,                                                                                        -   ?o 

Moose  Lake  and  Public  Park,  72 
Hiram  Howe,                                                                                       r     75 

Summer  Residence  Dr.  A.  A.  Bemis,  7^ 

The  Old  Bemis  Mansion  House,  78 

William  Howe,  81 

Elias  Howe  Jr.  Monument  and  Grounds,  83 


ILLUSTRATIONS.  I  S3 

Alphonzo  Howe,  85 

Ancient  Chestnut  Tree,  87 

Capt.  Edmund  Bemis  House,  89 

First  Sewing  Machine,  91 

Elbridge  Howe,  93 

Tyler  Howe,  95 

The  Old  Howe  Homestead,  96 

Elias  Howe  Jr.,  98 

Cloth  Sewed  on  First  Sewing  Machine,  99 

Mrs.  Lydia  Howe  Luke,  100 

Elias  Howe  Sr. ,  101 

Alpha  Bemis,  102 

Elias  Bemis,  103 

Thomas  A.  Prouty,  104 

Polly  (Bemis)  Howe,  105 

Anna  (Bemis)  Capen,  106 

Catherine  (Bemis)  Howland,  108 

Dexter  Bemis,  1 10 

Elias  Howe  Bronze  Statue,  1 12 

Lieut.  Frederick  A.  Bemis,  114 

Elias  Howe  Jr.  Birthplace  Tablet,  1 15 

Fanny  (Bemis)  Howe,  116 

Sally  Bemis  Sampler,  1 18 

Bemis  Cover  Quilts,  120 

Old  No.  9  Red  Schoolhouse,  128 

Maria  L.  Merrick,  129 

Bemis  Family  Group,  132 

John  Bemis,  134 

Pliny  Snow,  135 

Daniel  Ball,  136 

Daniel  Ball's  Peg  Factory,  137 

Napoleon  B.  Prouty,  139 

Ruel  Jones,  140 

Fragment  Church  Bell,  141 

Betsey  (Beers)  Adams,  145 

Old  Mile  Stone,  146 

The  Mason  Inn,  147 

Horatio  Hall,  148 

Polly  (May)  Tower,  153 

Joseph  Garfield  Jr.,  154 

The  Last  Bear  Shot  in  Spencer,  155 

William   May  House,  156 

Capt.  John  Newhall  House,  157 

George  Washington  Bemis,  159 

District  No.  2  Schoolhouse,  161 

Joseph  Bemis  House,  162 

Sons  of  Amasa  Bemis  Jr.,  176 

Samuel  Bemis  Monument,  178 


CONTENTS. 


History  of  Nathaniel  Wood,  PAGE' 

Explanation  of  Bemis  and  Wood  Map,  2l 

Inception  of  the  Bemis  Monument,  '                                               'o 

Our  Ancestors;  a  poem, 

Bemis  Historical  Address,  ^ 

Bemis  Revolutionary  War  Record,  ,^ 

Bemis  Civil  War  Record,  ' 

Fragments  of  Bemis  History,  ]  j^ 

District  No.  9  Old  Red  Schoolhouse,  1 2l 

Literary  Curiosity,  ' 

History  of  the  Peg  Industry,  J^J 

History  of  the  First  Church  Bell,  ** 

Ebenezer  Mason's  Pear  Story,  7 

Spencer  Distilleries,  45 

Joseph  Garfield's  Bear  Story,  ^ 

Stories  of  the  Revolution,    '  ^~ 

Spencer  Company  of  Mounted  Men,  5y 

Biographical  Sketch  of  Geo.  W.  Bemis,  ltl 

Genealogy  of  Joseph  Bemis  and  Descendants,  xet 

Bemis  Memorial  Park,  ]? 

Conclusion,  Z 

'  181 


